TRANSPORT

Driving Instruction

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many new drivers in (a) Barnsley Central constituency, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) England took the Pass Plus training course in each of the last five years; what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Pass Plus in preventing accidents among new drivers; and what steps his Department is taking to encourage drivers to take Pass Plus after their driving tests.

Stephen Hammond: The following table shows the total volume of Pass Plus certificates issued by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) in the last five years; we do not hold data on Pass Plus certificates issued specifically in Barnsley central constituency, South Yorkshire or England.
	
		
			  Number of certificates issued 
			 2008-09 89,668 
			 2009-10 74,821 
			 2010-11 68,571 
			 2011-12 49,013 
			 2012-13 39,386 
			 2013-14 (1)9408 
			 (1 )Year to date. 
		
	
	A report by the Association of British Insurers, published in 2006, showed that drivers who participated in the Pass Plus scheme had a marginally lower accident rate than drivers who did not. We continue to explore with the insurance industry options for improving market confidence so that we can maximise the incentives and take-up of post-test training initiatives. The Department will publish a Green Paper later this year looking at a range of options for ensuring young drivers stay safe on the roads.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what methodology was used to estimate the cost of the High Speed 2 project; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: HS2 Ltd has appointed leading engineering consultancies to prepare estimates using a range of conventional techniques. The estimates are subject to a number of assurance processes including peer and independent review. Additionally, risks associated with the project are identified and assessed to inform an appropriate level of contingency.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the benefits to North West Wales as a result of High Speed 2.

Simon Burns: No specific assessment has been made of the direct benefits to North West Wales. However passengers will benefit from High Speed 2 via the interchange at Crewe and connection to West Coast Mainline. The Government's ambition is for a truly national network that is expected to deliver around £2 of benefits for every £1 spent.

Railways

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with organisations involved in the recent completion of high speed rail projects in (a) France, (b) Germany and (c) Spain.

Simon Burns: In November last year, the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Mr McLoughlin), met with SNCF, France's state-owned railway company that operates France's national rail services including the Train á Grande Vitesse (TGV)—France's high-speed rail network.
	Officials are also continuously considering if there are any valuable lessons from other high speed rail projects that the UK could possibly use in the development of their HS2 plans.

Railways: Finance

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what payments First Transpennine Express made to the Exchequer in each financial year since April 2004; and what payments First Transpennine Express received from the public purse in each of those years;
	(2)  what payments London Midland made to the Exchequer in each financial year since April 2004; and what payments London Midland received from the public purse in each of those years;
	(3)  what payments First Scotrail made to the Exchequer in each financial year since April 2004; and what payments First Scotrail received from the public purse in each of those years;
	(4)  what payments Arriva Trains Wales made to the Exchequer in each financial year since April 2004; and what payments Arriva Trains Wales received from the public purse in each of those years;
	(5)  pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2013, Official Report, column 431W, on South West Trains, what payments South West Trains made to the Exchequer in each financial year betwen 2004-05 and 2009-09; and what payments South West Trains received from the public purse in each of those years.

Norman Baker: Information on the net annual payments between Government and Train Operating Companies is published annually by the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) on their data portal. This is available on the ORR's website at:
	http://dataportal.orr.gov.uk
	Figures for First Scotrail and Arriva Trains Wales are supplied by the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government respectively as those bodies are responsible for the management and funding on those franchises.

Transport: West Sussex

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for future investment in the (a) West Sussex and (b) Mid Sussex transport network.

Norman Baker: As part of the recent 2013 spending round announcement Government set out plans for a significant package of investment in transport. This included a commitment to provide almost £6 billion for local highways maintenance which will be available to local highway authorities in England, including West Sussex county council over the period from 2015-16 to 2020-21. In addition funding of £458 million per annum was also confirmed to support small scale transport improvements through the integrated transport block from 2015-16 to 2020-21 of which £200 million per annum will be top sliced and put into the Local Growth Fund.
	The 2013 spending round announcement also included a commitment to fund improvements to the A27 at Chichester and to develop and fund managed motorway proposals on the M23 between junctions 8 and 10 near Gatwick, subject to value for money and deliverability.
	In addition, Government undertook to identify and fund solutions to a number of the most notorious and longstanding road hotspots. This involves taking forward a range of feasibility studies to look at the problems, including looking at the A27 corridor on the south coast including at Arundel and Worthing.
	This is alongside improvements that are planned at the A27 Ford Roundabout at Arundel, a scheme that was successful in the recent Highway Agency Pinch Point fund.
	With regards rail, a £53 million enhancement scheme at Gatwick Airport Station will deliver two new platforms and operational improvements by the end of 2013.
	The Government has also recently announced plans to devolve funding for local major transport schemes from 2015-16. The Coast to Capital Local Transport Body, which includes representatives from West Sussex County Council and the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), will shortly publish their prioritised list of local major transport schemes. West Sussex will also have the opportunity, as part of the LEP, to bid for further funding for transport through the Local Growth Fund.
	Transport funding is not allocated directly to Shire district authorities such as Mid Sussex.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

China

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps (a) his Department and (b) UK Trade and Investment are taking to promote UK exports to, and attract inward investment from, China.

Hugo Swire: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) are working hard to promote UK exports and attract inward investment. There has been a significant increase in the resource allocated to China, expanding our ability to promote UK prosperity through an increase of 63 staff and more project funding.
	UKTI works closely with its partner the China-Britain Business Council (CBBC) to support companies looking to export to China. This includes organising trade fairs and missions, and by sharing market insights. UKTI also identify lucrative projects for UK business via the High Value Opportunities (HVO) Programme and promote the UK via the GREAT campaign, showcasing what the UK has to offer China.
	UKTI also works hard to promote the UK as a location for inward investment, including through a dedicated team in China. UKTI provide market information, location guidance and practical help to Chinese companies wanting to invest in the UK.

China

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how additional funding allocated by his Department to work in China is being spent.

Hugo Swire: In November 2011, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), agreed to invest an additional £4 million per annum in the China network to deliver a significant increase in our presence, aimed at increasing our reach, engagement, understanding and influence in China. This uplift is being spent on more staff who have been accommodated via a small reconfiguration of our existing office estate.
	Over financial year 2012-13, the China network spent almost £300,000 on additional programme activity. This funded 29 projects across China, supporting our objectives in areas including low carbon development, judicial reform, civil society, policing, economic reform, crisis management, and promoting the UK through activities alongside the GREAT campaign. A further £300,000 has been allocated for 2013-14.
	A second programme of investment to upgrade our estate across China is now in the initial stages of planning, aimed at creating a modern, efficient and fit for purpose estate.

China

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what programme of events will be taking place between China and the UK in the next 12 months.

Hugo Swire: Given the priorities we share, we expect there to be a busy programme of visits to and from China over the next year. We have over 40 regular dialogues with China at both ministerial and official level, covering a range of issues from the economy to human rights, including a summit between Prime Minister and the Chinese Premier and an economic and financial dialogue led by the Chancellor of the Exchequer and his counterpart in the State Council. We also anticipate the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), will hold his annual strategic dialogue with State Councillor Yang later this year.

China

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what positive results have resulted from the UK-China strategic dialogue in recent months.

Hugo Swire: The last Strategic Dialogue, held in September 2011 with State Councillor Dai Bingguo, agreed three priority areas for international co-operation: climate change; development; and counter proliferation. We have achieved positive results in each of these areas.
	In the area of climate change our projects are helping China reduce the energy intensity of its economy and encourage the transition to cleaner energy sources. A recent example of such a project has been our collaboration to help the Chinese Government develop a version of the UK 2050 Energy Pathways Calculator.
	Development co-operation with China has been advanced by the Department for International Development's Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chinese Government. The MoU has helped advance joint work in countries such as Uganda and Malawi, and sectors such as health, agriculture and disaster risk reduction.
	On counter proliferation, China has agreed to host the next meeting of the P5 to discuss disarmament, and is leading development of the P5 glossary of key nuclear terms, which the P5 intend to submit to the 2015 NPT Review Conference. China played a constructive role during negotiation of the Arms Trade Treaty, and is now considering signing. FCO officials regularly discuss a range of other non-proliferation issues with Chinese counterparts.

China

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on steps taken by the new leadership in the Chinese government to tackle vested interests.

Hugo Swire: The new leadership has made clear that it recognises the need to tackle corruption and improve governance in China. It has also expressed a desire to reform regulatory regimes and corporate governance structures, especially in the state owned sector. We welcome this and are willing to share British expertise where appropriate. We continue to encourage China to promote freedom of expression, strengthen the rule of law and strengthen civil society to tackle the roots of corruption.

China

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with (a) the Chinese government and (b) others on tackling dangerous climate change through co-operation between China and the UK.

Hugo Swire: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of Energy and Climate Change regularly discuss climate change with China. These discussions principally take place with the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission and its associated agencies, but we also regularly speak to a range of other Chinese departments and Government bodies.
	Our engagement with China on climate change is underpinned by project work, including recent collaboration to help the Chinese Government develop a version of the UK 2050 Energy Pathways Calculator. These projects are intended to help China reduce the energy intensity of its economy and encourage the transition to cleaner energy sources.
	Collaboration between the UK and China on climate change is also regularly discussed in a wide range of bilateral and multilateral fora. In particular, we are actively encouraging the EU and other European countries to maintain and increase their own engagement with China on climate change and energy issues.

China

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Chinese government to encourage its involvement in the international energy governance process.

Hugo Swire: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department of Energy and Climate Change regularly discuss international energy governance with China. Principally these discussions take place between our embassy in Beijing and the Chinese National Energy Administration and through a joint UK-China study into options for improving international energy governance. This FCO-funded study is helping China to consider options for stronger governance, including closer co-operation with the International Energy Agency.

China

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the outcomes of the UK's work with China in reducing global poverty.

Hugo Swire: The Department for International Development has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Chinese Government—the first international development agency to do so. The MoU has helped advance joint work in countries such as Uganda and Malawi, and sectors such as health, agriculture and disaster risk reduction.

Diplomatic Service: Private Education

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on the payment of private school fees for personnel (a) by country and (b) in total in each year since 2010.

Alistair Burt: Members of the diplomatic service must be prepared to serve anywhere in the world at any time during their career, sometimes at very short notice. Those who are parents are legally obliged to ensure that their children receive a full-time education. Most parents prefer to take their children with them abroad, but in some countries we do not permit staff to take their children either for health or security reasons. Where staff cannot or choose not to take their children overseas, we contribute towards the costs of boarding school education in the UK for children up to the age of 18, provided that officers meet specific eligibility criteria. This enables the children to have stability and continuity of education, which is particularly important for secondary school age children. We provide financial support to all diplomatic staff, irrespective of grade, who serve overseas, to help enable them to meet this requirement.
	We expect children who accompany their parents on postings overseas to use free state schooling if it is available locally and suitable. If suitable English-language schooling is not available free of charge locally, but is available at fee-charging schools, we pay fees to enable children to receive the education they would be entitled to in the UK.
	The costs to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) of Continuity of Education Allowance (CEA) for children of FCO staff attending school in the UK, and for schooling overseas for children at posts with their parents, was as follows:
	
		
			 £ 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 CEA (UK schooling) total 13,067,398 15,448,371 14,926,061 
			 Schooling at posts overseas 11,520,900 11,761,394 12,339,254 
		
	
	The CEA figures from 2011-12 are not directly comparable with earlier years. Costs vary year on year according to the numbers and ages of children at school, and the location of staff claimants. Additionally the FCO has changed the way it records its management information so that other partners in Government are now included in the overall figures.
	The breakdown for the costs of schooling at posts overseas is not held centrally and would be available only at disproportionate cost.

Hong Kong

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether the rights stated in the joint declaration between China and the UK regarding Hong Kong are being upheld.

Hugo Swire: Since July 1997, the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has reported to Parliament at six-monthly intervals on the implementation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong. These reports are available on the FCO website:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/six-monthly-reports-on-hong-kong
	In the most recent report, covering the period July to December 2012, we consider that, in general, “One Country, Two Systems” continues to work well in practice and that the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Joint Declaration continue to be upheld.

Iran

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the right of Iran to enrich uranium under the terms of the non-proliferation treaty.

Alistair Burt: The non-proliferation treaty (NPT) does not refer specifically to a right to enrich. Article IV.1 of the NPT says
	"Nothing in this Treaty shall be interpreted as affecting the inalienable right of all the Parties to the Treaty to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in conformity with Articles I and II of the Treaty.”
	However, the international community has lost confidence that Iran's nuclear programme is wholly for peaceful purposes. Iran has a long history of non-compliance with its safeguards obligations and continues to not fully co-operate with ¦the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), including on questions it has about activities Iran has carried out relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device. Furthermore, the size and shape of Iran's nuclear programme has no credible civilian explanation.
	For this reason the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has required Iran to suspend
	“all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities”
	and
	“work on all heavy water-related projects”
	in successive legally binding resolutions. We continue to call on Iran to meet its international obligations under these UNSC resolutions.

Kidnapping

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the G8 policy paper on the threat posed by kidnapping for ransom by terrorists and the preventive steps the international community can take, published on 18 June 2013, (a) whether the Government has had discussions with interested parties about the freeing of convicted terrorists from prisons in West African states as part of hostage-release packages and (b) what steps he plans to take to encourage travel and insurance companies and other private sector parties to adopt similar guidelines and good practice for preventing and responding to terrorist kidnaps; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The British Government has a long-standing policy of not making or facilitating substantive concessions to hostage-takers. This means the Government will not pay ransoms, exchange prisoners or change government policy.
	We continue to press the international community to follow the UK's lead in not making any concessions to terrorists, at the UN and elsewhere. As the hon. Member notes, the Government recently used its G8 presidency to prioritise this issue and secured a significant G8 commitment unequivocally to reject the payment of ransoms to terrorists. We hope other countries, and businesses and the non-governmental sector in those countries, will follow the G8's lead.
	It is already illegal to pay ransoms to terrorists under international and UK law. The British Government regularly engages with the travel industry, journalists, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and businesses to ensure that they are taking steps to mitigate against kidnapping of their staff and are clear about how the Government can assist in any response. This includes meetings by the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Boston and Skegness (Mark Simmonds), with the travel industry on the Sahel region last November and I met with the extractive industry representatives following the tragic attack in In Amenas, Algeria in January.

Languages

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many London-based staff in his Department have (a) been offered and (b) taken up training in the Mandarin language.

Alistair Burt: The information is as follows:
	(a) This Government is committed to strengthening language skills across the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). As part of our commitment to Diplomatic Excellence, all FCO staff are offered opportunities to learn languages, including Mandarin. Staff appointed to 'speaker slots' are offered full time language training to ensure they achieve the necessary levels of language skills to best deliver HMG's priorities overseas. In addition, e-learning opportunities are available to all staff, and those in London can also apply to join lunchtime and after work classes in Mandarin and a range of other priority languages. To help support this commitment the FCO will open a new Language Centre later this summer.
	(b) In the past 12 months, 31 staff have undergone full-time Mandarin language training in preparation for their postings to the region. This includes 20 staff currently in full-time language training either in the UK or overseas. In addition, 40 staff are undertaking part-time developmental language training in Mandarin and 59 more are using our e-learning package to learn Mandarin.

Sahel

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the contribution China has made to peace and security in the Sahel region in recent months.

Hugo Swire: China makes an important contribution to security in Africa, including the Sahel, through its support for the Africa Union and its contributions to peacekeeping missions. We welcome China's announcement in June that it will contribute up to 400 personnel to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali.

South China Sea

Frank Roy: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of whether territorial disputes in the South China Sea would have an adverse effect on British exports to the region.

Hugo Swire: The South China Sea is an important shipping route for British and world trade. We estimate that around £40 billion of the UK's total trade in goods passes through annually. We judge that the territorial disputes can be managed without any adverse effect on British exports to the region, provided all the parties to the disputes seek peaceful solutions in accordance with international law and ensure that the freedom of navigation is maintained. This is what we have called for.

Sudan

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the implementation of the Darfur Initiative in Sudan.

Mark Simmonds: We believe the Doha Document for Peace in Darfur (DDPD) can play an important role in resolving the conflict in Darfur, and re-committed our support for it at the Darfur Donors' conference in Qatar in April this year. However, implementation is significantly behind schedule and Darfuris have yet to see tangible improvements to their lives. We continue to press the Government of Sudan and the Darfur Regional Authority to implement the DDPD without delay, so that Darfuris see the change they so desperately need.

Sudan and South Sudan

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of his Department's officials have been based in UK Trade and Investment in Sudan and South Sudan in each of the last six years.

Mark Simmonds: From 2008-11, there was one locally-employed member of staff working for UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) covering commercial relations for the whole of Sudan and based in the British embassy in Khartoum. Following the independence of South Sudan, UKTI retained the officer in Khartoum until March 2013. Over the period in question, there have been no Juba-based UKTI officials.

Syria

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to Syrian Opposition forces about religious toleration, non-sectarianism and the protection of the rights of the Christian minority in Syria.

Alistair Burt: We are extremely concerned by the rising sectarian tensions in Syria which the actions of the Assad regime are continuing to exacerbate. The regime's actions undermine the stability and security of Syria and thereby endanger all Syria's citizens, including Christians and other religious minorities. As for the Opposition the UK Special Representative to the Opposition, Jon Wilks, is in regular contact with the Syrian National Coalition to stress the need for them to respect fully and protect the rights of all communities, including ethnic and religious minorities. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has personally reinforced these messages to the National Coalition leadership, most recently in Amman on 20 May.
	On 20 April the National Coalition published a compact with the international community and the Syrian people in which it confirmed the importance it places on: the inclusion of all Syrians; the rejection of terrorism and extremist groups; and efforts to develop a clear plan for transition. These important steps have enabled many countries to expand their assistance to the opposition. We will continue to raise these crucial issues with the National Coalition on a regular basis, and to emphasise the important that must be attached to them.

UN Mission in Darfur

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on future UK involvement with UNAMID.

Mark Simmonds: As acknowledged by the UN Secretary General in his report of 10 April to the UN Security Council, UNAMID could be more effective in carrying out its mandate to protect civilians. Last year's United Nations review of uniformed personnel highlighted the changing nature of the conflict in Darfur and outlined a series of recommendations to ensure a more effective and efficient use of uniformed resources to better meet the mission's mandate. A review of civilian personal is ongoing, and initial recommendations are emerging. We are supportive of both reviews' findings and are encouraging timely implementation of their recommendations.
	The restrictions on movement imposed by the Government of Sudan remain a significant challenge to the mission's ability to fulfil its mandate, an issue we raise regularly in Security Council consultations as well as with the Government of Sudan. The primary responsibility for protecting civilians remains with the Government of Sudan.
	The UK will continue to support UNAMID—including through considering how we might assist troop-contributing countries to prepare better to carry out the mission’s protection-of-civilians mandate. We hope that the forthcoming renewal of UNAMID's mandate will also see international partners recommit their support to the mission.
	Officials have discussed the effectiveness of the mission on a number of occasions over the past few months with the United Nations Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Hervé Ladsous, the Joint Special Representative Mohamed Ibn Chambas, and the incoming Force Commander.

UN Mission in Darfur

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his foreign counterparts on the future of UNAMID in Sudan.

Mark Simmonds: As acknowledged by the UN Secretary General in his report of 10 April to the UN Security Council, UNAMID could be more effective in carrying out its mandate to protect civilians. Last year's United Nations review of uniformed personnel highlighted the changing nature of the conflict in Darfur and outlined a series of recommendations to ensure a more effective and efficient use of uniformed resources to better meet the mission's mandate. A review of civilian personal is ongoing, and initial recommendations are emerging. We are supportive of both reviews' findings and are encouraging timely implementation of their recommendations.
	The restrictions on movement imposed by the Government of Sudan remain a significant challenge to the mission's ability to fulfil its mandate, an issue we raise regularly in Security Council consultations as well as with the Government of Sudan. The primary responsibility for protecting civilians remains with the Government of Sudan.
	The UK will continue to support UNAMID, including through considering how we might assist troop-contributing countries to prepare better to carry out the mission's protection-of-civilians mandate. We hope that the forthcoming renewal of UNAMID's mandate will also see international partners recommit their support to the mission.
	Officials have discussed the effectiveness of the mission on a number of occasions over the past few months with the United Nations Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Hervé Ladsous, the Joint Special Representative Mohamed Ibn Chambas, and the incoming Force Commander.

UN Mission in Darfur

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the work of UNAMID in Sudan.

Mark Simmonds: As acknowledged by the UN Secretary General in his report of 10 April to the UN Security Council, UNAMID could be more effective in carrying out its mandate to protect civilians. Last year's United Nations review of uniformed personnel highlighted the changing nature of the conflict in Darfur and outlined a series of recommendations to ensure a more effective and efficient use of uniformed resources to better meet the mission's mandate. A review of civilian personal is ongoing, and initial recommendations are emerging. We are supportive of both reviews' findings and are encouraging timely implementation of their recommendations.
	The restrictions on movement imposed by the Government of Sudan remain a significant challenge to the mission's ability to fulfil its mandate, an issue we raise regularly in Security Council consultations as well as with the Government of Sudan. The primary responsibility for protecting civilians remains with the Government of Sudan.
	The UK will continue to support UNAMID, including through considering how we might assist troop-contributing countries to prepare better to carry out the mission's protection-of-civilians mandate. We hope that the forthcoming renewal of UNAMID's mandate will also see international partners recommit their support to the mission.
	Officials have discussed the effectiveness of the mission on a number of occasions over the past few months with the United Nations Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Hervé Ladsous, the Joint Special Representative Mohamed Ibn Chambas, and the incoming Force Commander.

World Trade Organisation

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his foreign counterparts on whether World Trade Organisation rules hinder prohibitions or other measures preventing child labour.

David Lidington: None. The Government has no current plans to review the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements, which are based on the core principle of non-discrimination and are fit for purpose in terms of regulating international trade. The International Labour Organisation is the correct forum to deal with labour standards and regularly collaborates with the WTO.
	Incentives to tackle child labour are built into the trade agreements, of which the UK is part, through sustainable development clauses, and in the conditions attached to the trade preferences that we provide to developing countries. As an incentive, additional trade preferences are provided to countries that sign up to, and effectively implement, good governance and human rights conventions. However, adopting trade restrictions in the case of a developing country could have the potential to hurt some of the poorest people in the country and set back development.

World Trade Organisation

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of any respects in which World Trade Organisation rules hinder (a) prohibitions against and (b) other measures preventing child labour.

David Lidington: None. The Government has no current plans to review the World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements which are based on the core principle of non-discrimination and are fit for purpose in terms of regulating international trade. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) is the correct forum to deal with labour standards and regularly collaborates with the WTO.
	Incentives to tackle child labour are built into the trade agreements the UK is part of through sustainable development clauses, and in the conditions attached to the trade preferences we provide to developing countries. As an incentive, additional trade preferences are provided to countries which sign up to and effectively implement good governance and human rights conventions. However, adopting trade restrictions in the case of a developing country could have the potential to hurt some of the poorest people in the country and set back development.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Prices

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol.

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Government plans to introduce a minimum unit price for alcohol.

Jeremy Browne: holding answer 9 July 2013
	The public consultation on the Government's alcohol strategy closed on 6 February 2013. We will publish our response in due course.

Homicide

Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women have been victims of domestic homicide in each police force area in each of the last five years.

Jeremy Browne: The information requested is given in the table.
	The available information relates to crimes recorded on the Homicide Index in England and Wales from 2007-08 to 2011-12.
	
		
			 Table 1: Female victims of domestic homicide(1) recorded by the police, by police force area, 2007-08 to 2011-12 
			 Police force area 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 
			 Avon and Somerset 2 1 1 — 4 
			 Bedfordshire 3 2 — 1 3 
			 Cambridgeshire — 1 — — — 
			 Cheshire — — 2 1 2 
			 City of London 1 1 2 3 1 
			 Cleveland 2 — 3 — — 
			 Cumbria 1 3 — 2 — 
			 Derbyshire 1 — 1 1 3 
			 Devon and Cornwall 3 1 3 4 3 
			 Dorset 1 1 2 1 1 
			 Durham 1 1 2 2 3 
			 Dyfed-Powys — 1 — 1 — 
			 Essex — — 1 1 3 
			 Gloucestershire 2 1 — — — 
			 Greater Manchester 4 11 4 4 4 
			 Gwent 2 2 1 — — 
			 Hampshire 5 3 4 3 1 
			 Hertfordshire — 1 2 2 1 
			 Humberside — 3 2 2 — 
			 Kent 3 — 4 3 2 
			 Lancashire 3 3 5 5 2 
			 Leicestershire — 2 5 2 1 
			 Lincolnshire 1 1 1 1 1 
			 Merseyside 2 4 1 — 6 
			 Metropolitan Police 9 16 11 15 15 
			 Norfolk — 2 2 2 — 
			 Northamptonshire 1 — 2 — 2 
			 Northumbria 1 2 1 2 — 
			 North Wales — — 2 1 — 
			 North Yorkshire 1 3 2 — 2 
			 Nottinghamshire — 4 1 3 3 
			 South Wales 5 2 6 1 — 
			 South Yorkshire 5 9 4 5 2 
			 Staffordshire 2 1 3 1 1 
			 Suffolk 1 — 2 2 — 
			 Surrey 2 2 2 1 1 
			 Sussex 4 2 1 5 1 
			 Thames Valley 1 5 2 5 5 
			 Warwickshire — — 1 1 1 
			 West Mercia — 1 3 1 1 
			 West Midlands 2 6 2 7 7 
			 West Yorkshire 8 3 2 4 6 
			 Wiltshire 1 — 1 — — 
			 England and Wales 80 101 96 95 88 
			 (1) Homicides where the victim's relationship to principal suspect is ‘spouse, cohabiting partner, boyfriend/girlfriend, ex-spouse/ex-cohabiting partner/ex-boyfriend/girlfriend, adulterous relationship, lover's spouse or emotional rival’. Note: As at 1 November 2012; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available.

Human Trafficking

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions (a) she and (b) the Minister for Immigration has had with (i) the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and (ii) the Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs in the Scottish Government on human trafficking in the UK.

Mark Harper: Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of these meetings are passed to the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis and are subsequently published on the Cabinet Office website and can be found on the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inter-departmental-ministerial-group-on-human-trafficking-minutes

Immigration: Northern Ireland

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people suspected of immigration breaches have been detained at (a) airports and (b) sea ports in Northern Ireland in each year since 2007.

Mark Harper: Detailed records about our in-country immigration work that targets domestic routes to and from Northern Ireland's air and sea ports are available from financial year (April to March) 2010-11 when responsibility for this work transferred to immigration officers in Northern Ireland. Over the last three years 740 immigration offenders were detected using these routes:
	At the airports: 82 offenders were detected during 2012-13—compared with 83 in 2011-12 and 132 in 2010-11.
	At the seaports: 122 offenders were detected at the sea ports during 2012-13—compared with 242 in 2011-12 and 79 in 2010-11.
	At the border: The seaports are domestic routes and therefore not subject to international border controls. At Northern Ireland airports, Border Force Immigration Officers have issued 296 refusals to enter the UK since 2009 when detailed records were introduced. So far this year 25 passengers have been refused entry to the UK—compared with 69 in 2012, 40 in 2011, 72 in 2010 and 90 in 2009.

Members: Correspondence

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the hon. Member for Warley can expect to receive a reply from her Department to his letter of 8 April 2013 to the UK Border Agency regarding the case of Mr Yudon Singh.

Mark Harper: I wrote to the right hon. Member on 10 July 2013.

Police: Recordings

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what conditions the police may legally tape record a meeting between a solicitor and their client without seeking prior consent from both parties.

James Brokenshire: It would not be legal for the police to record a meeting between a detainee and their legal representative except under certain, very limited, circumstances, as set out in the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. These include matters relating to national security or the protection of public safety where the use of covert surveillance is likely to yield intelligence necessary to counter a serious threat. This would need to be authorised by a chief constable and would require the approval of a surveillance commissioner.

UK Border Agency

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK Border Agency staff in (a) Scotland, (b) England, (c) Wales, (d) Northern Ireland and (e) the UK were made redundant and subsequently rehired in each of the last three years.

Mark Harper: The UK Border Agency has not re-employed any staff made redundant.
	Some staff who left under voluntary exit terms have been re-employed both directly and indirectly on various types of contract to meet specific business needs. 61 of these staff currently remain employed (as detailed in the table):
	
		
			 Contract type Total 
			 Permanent staff 1 
			 Agency 55 
			 Non-paid contractor 2 
			 Fee paid worker 1 
			 Fixed term appointment 2 
			 Total 61 
		
	
	Of those given such contracts the regional breakdown is as follows:
	
		
			  Staff taking voluntary exit, rehired by year(1)  
			 Area 2011(2) 2012 2013 Of which: Still on post on 28 May 2013 
			 (a) Scotland 0 0 0 0 
			 (b) England 3 or less 102 0 61 
			 (c) Wales 0 0 0 0 
			 (d) Northern Ireland 0 0 0 0 
			 UK location not centrally recorded 0 3 0 0 
			 (e) The UK 3 or less 105 0 61 
			 (1) Figures given are for UK Border Agency and exclude Border Force. (2) Fiscal years 18 April to 31 March 2011 etc. Note: We do not release work force numbers of between 1 and 3 to avoid identifying individuals. Totals for this range are shown as 3.

Youth Work

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much funding her Department allocated for youth work in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if she will make a statement.

Jeremy Browne: The Home Office has provided funding for a range of early intervention programmes targeting young people. These have included the Ending Gang and Youth Violence Programme, Positive Futures and funding for local youth crime and substance misuse prevention services. Funding for these programmes totalled £19,313,000 in 2010-11; £27,813,000 in 2011-12 and £33,713,000 in 2012-13.
	Alongside Home Office funding for specific intervention programmes, local authorities also provide funding for youth services.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much the UK has spent on construction and maintenance of Camp Bastion in each financial year since 2002.

Andrew Murrison: holding answer 8 July 2013
	Camp Bastion was constructed in 2006, so information prior to this date, does not exist. Nor is it possible to identify all Bastion construction and operation and maintenance costs, since 2006, as a number of the relevant contracts covered all of our larger bases. These costs are therefore accounted for collectively for all bases in Afghanistan and are as follows:
	
		
			 Financial year Costs (£ million) 
			 2006-07 67.809 
			 2007-08 80.855 
			 2008-09 87.214 
			 2009-10 116.905 
			 2010-11 177.029 
			 2011-12 77.528 
			 2012-13 48.409

Armed Forces: Sexual Offences

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 20 May 2013, Official Report, column 495W, on armed forces: sexual offences, what sanctions against a perpetrator are available to a commanding officer following the conclusion of an investigation of a sexual offence listed in schedule 2 to the Armed Forces Act 2006 which they have undertaken; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence takes the issue of sexual offences in the armed forces very seriously and this is reflected in the policy dealing with those offences that are listed in schedule 2 of the Armed Forces Act 2006. A commanding officer has a legal duty to ensure that the service police are informed of any offence or suspected offence listed under schedule 2. The service police will undertake the investigation which, on its conclusion, will be referred to the Director Service Prosecutions (DSP). If the DSP decides to bring a prosecution this will result in a court martial.

Armed Forces: Wales

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving members of the (a) Royal Air Force, (b) Royal Navy and (c) Army have asked for voluntary early release, at each base located in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: The information is not held in the format requested. However, statistics on the number of Army personnel who have applied for redundancy under Tranche 3 will be available shortly. Information on the armed forces redundancy programme is published by Defence Statistics and is available from their website at:
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/applications/newWeb/www/index.php?page=48&pubType=0&thiscontent=5100&PublishTime =09:30:00&date=2010-08-24&disText=Tranche2&from= listing&topDate=2012-08-24
	The information published is not broken down by location. I will write to the hon. Member with the breakdown by local authority.
	Service personnel who applied for redundancy under Tranches 1 and 2 have already left the Department.
	The selection of an individual for redundancy cannot be assumed to imply that the post they occupy on the date of notification is no longer required and as such the geographical distribution of redundancy notices is not a valid basis for assumptions about the future distribution of military posts.

Armed Forces: Wales

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) civilians and (b) serving military personnel are employed by the (i) Royal Air Force, (ii) Royal Navy and (iii) Army in Wales; where they are located; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: The following table details the number of employed civilians and serving armed forces personnel by service and local authority who were located in Wales as at 1 April 2013.
	
		
			 Place of work by local authority Civilian personnel Naval service personnel Army personnel Royal Air Force personnel 
			 Blaenau Gwent —  —  
			 Bridgend —  — — 
			 Caerphilly — — — — 
			 Cardiff 60 — 50 10 
			 Carmarthenshire 20 — —  
			 Ceredigion — — —  
			 Conwy 20  — 10 
			 Denbighshire 10  — — 
			 Flintshire 370  10 — 
			 Gwynedd 10 — — 20 
			 Isle of Anglesey 80 10 10 360 
			 Merthyr Tydfil —  — — 
			 Monmouthshire 10 — 10 — 
			 Neath Port Talbot    — 
			 Newport 30 — 10  
			 Pembrokeshire 30 — 670 20 
			 Powys 270 — 310 10 
			 Rhondda, Cynon Taff 10  — — 
		
	
	
		
			 Swansea 10 — 20 — 
			 The Vale of Glamorgan 300 120 650 290 
			 Torfaen — — — — 
			 Wrexham 20 — 20 10 
			 Based in Wales, but local authority not identified 10 — — — 
			 Total 1,260 140 1,800 720 
			 Notes: 1. ‘—’ = zero or rounded to zero 2. Where rounding has been used, totals and sub-totals have been rounded separately and so may not equal the sums of their rounded parts. When rounding to the nearest 10, numbers ending in ‘5’ have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent systematic bias. 3. Civilian figures are based on full-time equivalents and include trading funds, but exclude Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel. 4. Figures for UK regular armed forces (including trained and untrained personnel) and therefore exclude Gurkhas, full-time reserve personnel and mobilised reservists. 5. Naval service personnel on sea service are included against the local authority containing the home port of their ship. 6. Royal Air Force other ranks serving in the South Atlantic are shown against the location containing their home base.

Defence Vetting Agency

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people were employed by the Defence Vetting Agency in (a) York and (b) total at 1 April in each year since it was created.

Mark Francois: The figures in the following table represent people employed by the Defence Business Services National Security Vetting for 2012 and 2013 and its predecessor the Defence Vetting Agency until 2011. (Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10).
	
		
			  Staff based in York Overall total 
			 2003 220 320 
			 2004 220 340 
			 2005 230 350 
			 2006 230 350 
			 2007 230 360 
			 2008 250 390 
			 2009 300 450 
			 2010 310 470 
			 2011 260 430 
			 2012 220 350 
			 2013 180 310

Defence: Procurement

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  which financial year will act as the baseline from which the annual real terms one per cent increase in defence equipment spending will be calculated;
	(2)  whether equipment support will be subject to an annual real terms one per cent increase after 2015.

Philip Dunne: As the 2013 spending round set out, the baseline year for the annual one per cent increase in equipment spending, which includes both procurement and support spending, is financial year 2015-16, with the increase continuing each year thereafter. This is because the baseline year needs to take account of the new efficiencies identified in the spending round 2013, which have been factored in to our plans before calculating the 1% increase.

Government Communications Headquarters: Morwenstow

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to what agency and individual those working at CSO Morwenstow are accountable.

Alistair Burt: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
	Those working at Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) Bude, previously known as the Composite Signals Organisation Station Morwenstow, are accountable to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.

Government Communications Headquarters: Morwenstow

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many (a) US army, (b) US air force, (c) US navy and US marines, (d) NSA personnel, (e) US contractors, (f) British contractors, (g) British Army, (h) British Air Force, (i) British Navy and (j) Ministry of Defence personnel work at CSO Morwenstow.

Alistair Burt: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
	There are approximately 200 people working at Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) Bude (previously known as the Composite Signals Organisation Station Morwenstow). It is long standing Government policy not to provide a detailed breakdown of staffing at GCHQ sites.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on negotiating a reduction in rent at RAF St. Athan for 71 (IR) Squadron; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Francois: There have been no discussions with the Welsh Government over negotiating a reduction in rent at RAF St. Athan for 71 (IR) Squadron.

Joint Strike Fighter Aircraft

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of the proposed relocation of 71 (IR) Squadron from RAF St. Athan to RAF Wittering on his Department's footprint in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Murrison: The Defence Estate Rationalisation written ministerial statement of 25 March 2013, Official Report, columns 65-68WS, confirmed that No. 71(IR) Squadron will relocate from St Athan to RAF Wittering.
	No. 71(IR) Squadron has 47 service personnel who will relocate to RAF Wittering. The squadron also has 27 civilian posts and, subject to a period of trade union consultation, those who are of a mobile grade will be given the opportunity to transfer with the squadron to RAF Wittering, while the remainder will be provided with every assistance to find alternative employment either in the MOD or with other Government Departments in the vicinity.
	However, the Army Basing Plan announcement of 5 March 2013 confirmed that a significant defence presence would remain in Wales with 14 Signal Regiment relocating to St Athan from Cawdor Barracks, Brawdy in addition to our wider footprint in Wales.

Reserve Forces

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the cost of his proposed reforms to the Army reservist system.

Mark Francois: Reserves make an essential contribution to national security. In future, their contribution to our Defence capability will increase as they become an integrated part of the whole force required for almost all operations, both at home and abroad. We have allocated an additional £1.8 billion to deliver the tri-Service Future Reserves 2020 capability.

Reserve Forces

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of new reservists recruited from regular service personnel previously made redundant.

Mark Francois: The most recent information available is for 1 April 2013. At that date, of the UK Regular and Gurkha personnel (both trained and untrained) who have left the services since September 2011 under the current UK Armed Forces Redundancy Programme, 140 were members of the Volunteer Reserve forces.
	Transforming the Territorial Army into a capable, integrated Army Reserve enhances the opportunities for ex-regulars to contribute their collective training experience. There is a comprehensive information campaign to ensure all service leavers, not just redundees, are aware of the opportunities and benefits of joining the reserves, including a commitment bonus worth £5,000, paid over four years.

Staff

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on (a) recruitment agency fees, (b) outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff and (c) staff training in each of the last 12 months.

Mark Francois: External civilian recruitment to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for grades below the senior civil service (SCS) is carried out by Defence Business Services. Where external recruitment for SCS level posts is required, recruitment agencies may be asked to carry out an initial search for suitable candidates. In financial year (FY) 2012-13 the MOD spent £272,483 on recruitment agency fees in connection with SCS level recruitment.
	MOD support to staff that are leaving on redundancy or voluntary release includes access to the outplacement service (MODOPS). MODOPS is a contractor-operated service which helps staff to find work outside the civil service, giving guidance on subjects including job-searching, CV writing, interview preparation and financial planning. Expenditure through MODOPS in FY 2012-13 was some £207,570, which is a reduction of approximately 17% on expenditure in FY 2011-12.
	The Defence Academy is the primary provider of training and education to civilian personnel, both through courses run on-site, and through the provision of e-learning, including the running of Defence e-learning centres. Specialist and functional training is also procured from a range of external suppliers. Some training is delivered locally, usually by civilian or military staff for whom training is not a full-time responsibility, but the costs of locally delivered training are not separately identified and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Details of total expenditure on staff training in FY 2012-13 are not held centrally. However, the Defence Academy outturn for FY 2012-13 was £125.4 million.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Ash Dieback Disease

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress the Chalara Control Plan has made on (a) reducing the rate of spread and (b) developing resistance to the disease in the native UK ash tree population; and what management guidance his Department has offered to land owners with trees showing signs of the fungus.

David Heath: The Government is pursuing a collaborative and largely voluntary approach to slowing the spread of Chalara in England, by encouraging landowners to remove recently planted, infected trees which could increase the rate of spread. The Forestry Commission has published guidance to support the Chalara Management Plan and its recommendations. This includes cost effective options for removal, disposal and replanting, as well as management of infected trees and general woodland management. Further guidance may be developed or revised as the management plan develops.
	http://www.forestry.gov.uk/chalara#managing%20infected%20trees
	Since the end of April, landowners in some parts of England have been able to apply for grants under the England Woodland Grant scheme (EWGS), to support the removal of young, infected ash trees. Landowners throughout England have been able to apply for grants under EWGS to enable them to plant other trees in areas where they would once have planted ash.
	Alongside this we are supporting a £2.4 million research programme to identify potential treatments and genetic resistance. Work on the resistance trials started in May. The Forestry Commission is running large-scale field trials and is planting 250,000 young ash trees in infected areas to screen for possible sources of resistance. We have also commissioned research to investigate genetic resistance in a laboratory setting. The Food and Environment Research Agency is currently trialling 14 treatments that could help slow the spread of Chalara.

Biodiversity

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent specifically for the benefit of biodiversity on the public forest estate in each year since 2004-05.

David Heath: While all sustainable forest management can benefit biodiversity, the Forestry Commission has spent the money shown in the following table specifically for the benefit of biodiversity on the public forest estate:
	
		
			 Financial year Spend on public forest estate (£) 
			 2004-05 2,719,442 
			 2005-06 3,673,847 
			 2006-07 4,785,114 
			 2007-08 3,871,339 
			 2008-09 4,456,223 
			 2009-10 4,787,026 
			 2010-11 5,196,665 
			 2011-12 4,132,597 
			 2012-13 3,730,628

Environment Protection

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what amount his Department spent and on what projects under the Addressing environmental risk and emergencies programme identified in his Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2011-12 in each of the last three years; and what the projected spend under that programme is for each (a) scheme and (b) individual project in each of the next three years;
	(2)  what amount his Department spent and on what projects under the Sustainable consumption and production programme identified in his Department's Annual Report and Accounts 2011-12 in each of the last three years; and what the projected spend under that programme is for each (a) scheme and (b) individual project in each of the next three years;
	(3)  which programmes and projects were undertaken by his Department under the championing sustainable development programme in each of the last three years; and what estimate he has made of likely spend on each such programme and project for each of the next three years.

Richard Benyon: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 July, Official Report, column 828W.
	A table detailing the breakdown of the priorities by programme has been placed in the House Library.

Flood Control

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made in trends in breaches of flood defences over the last 15 years.

Richard Benyon: Environment Agency managed flood defence assets include walls, embankments, demountable barriers, bridge abutments, gates and quays, semi-natural structures such as dunes and beaches, pumping stations, bridges, weirs, sluices, outfalls and conveyance maintenance on 39,000 km of channels and culverts.
	There have been 12 recorded breaches over the last 15 years, primarily associated with large scale flood events in 2007 and 2012, making it difficult to determine any trends.
	The vast majority of flood defences in England have performed as expected during floods and protected many thousands of homes.

Flood Control

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much his Department spent on (a) maintenance of flood defences and (b) new capital expenditure on flood defences in each year since 1997; and how much such spending is planned in each of the next 10 years.

Richard Benyon: The tables show the level of funding provided by DEFRA for flood defences since 1997. Prior to 2004 the majority of funding was provided by local government.
	Where possible the amount of DEFRA funding provided for revenue (including the maintenance of flood defences) and capital expenditure (building new flood defences) has been identified.
	The tables also include the forecast spend on revenue up to 2015-16 and the capital figures up to 2020-21, as announced in the 26 June spending review.
	
		
			 DEFRA Funding for flood defences 
			  £ million 
			 1997-98 87 
			 1998-99 78 
			 1999-2000 76 
			 2000-01 72 
			 2001-02 85 
			 2002-03 128 
			 2003-04 136 
		
	
	
		
			 £ million 
			  Revenue including maintenance Capital Total 
			 2004-05 — — 415 
			 2005-06 — — 515 
			 2006-07 — — 505 
			 2007-08 247 210 457 
			 2008-09 251 315 566 
			 2009-10 258 362 620 
			 2010-11 275 371 646 
			 2011-12 257 291 548 
			 2012-13 257 266 523 
			 2013-14 239 294 533 
		
	
	
		
			 Forecast spend 
			 £ million 
			  Revenue including maintenance Capital (rising with inflation from 2015-16) Total 
			 2014-15 226 344 570 
			 2015-16 231 370 601 
			 2016-17 — 377 — 
			 2017-18 — 383 — 
			 2018-19 — 390 — 
			 2019-20 — 397 — 
		
	
	
		
			 2020-21 — 404 — 
			 Note: DEFRA figures.

Floods: Insurance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects his negotiations on flood insurance with the insurance industry to be concluded; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: On 27 June 2013 the Government announced a headline agreement with the insurance industry to guarantee affordable flood insurance for households in high-risk areas.
	There are still a number of details to work through. We will continue to work closely with the industry to ensure people have access to flood insurance in the long-term. Once we have finalised our approach, legislation will need to be passed by Parliament and state aid clearance obtained from the European Commission.

Noise: Pollution Control

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many officials in his Department are engaged in the promotion of measures to reduce noise; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The equivalent of 6.2 full-time officials are currently engaged in the implementation of the Government's policy on environmental, neighbour and neighbourhood noise.

Noise: Pollution Control

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he has taken to promote the Noise Strategy since May 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: The Government's strategic aims for noise are set out in the Noise Policy Statement for England (NPSE). This seeks to promote good health and a good quality of life through the effective management of noise in the context of Government policy on sustainable development.
	The NPSE has been widely promoted and is now reflected in many other policies such as the National Planning Policy Framework, the National Policy Statements that support Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, and the Aviation Policy Framework. Its aims are also embedded in the transport Noise Action Plans, which seek to encourage appropriate action to manage noise at the local level. The NPSE is available online at:
	www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/69533/pb13750-noise-policy.pdf
	and I have placed a copy in the Library of the House.

Phytophthora Ramorum

Glyn Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential effect on forests of the spread of phytophthora ramorum in the larch tree population; what steps he is taking to prevent the spread of phytophthora ramorum; and what recent discussions he has had with his counterpart in the Welsh Government on this issue.

David Heath: Since the first finding in larch in 2009, Phytophthora ramorum has been found in large areas of larch forest in parts of the UK. This year substantial new areas have been found to be infected, notably in the previously infected regions of south Wales and south-west Scotland.
	The potential for further spread is being assessed through an ongoing modelling project and given favourable conditions for the development of the disease, spread is likely. A five-year programme to reduce levels of the disease to epidemiologically insignificant levels began in 2009, prior to the finding in larch. Actions under the programme include removal of plant species which are most effective in spreading the organism; surveillance of horticultural and forestry production; research; and raising public awareness about the organism and plant health risks more widely. The five year programme covers England and Wales, and officials are in regular contact about its implementation. The programme has recently been reviewed to inform decisions on future action against Phytophthora ramorum in the broader context of DEFRA's plant health programme.
	No ministerial discussions with Welsh colleagues have taken place about Phytophthora ramorum.

Plastic Bags

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will assess the first-year results of the plastic bag levy in Wales and come to a decision on introducing a levy on single-use plastic bags in England.

Richard Benyon: We remain determined to tackle the blight caused by discarded plastic bags. We are continuing to monitor progress of the charging scheme in Wales; data from the first year of the charge will be available this summer. The scheme in Northern Ireland started in April and the outcome of the Scottish consultation on a charge has now been announced. We are considering the results of all these schemes so that we can make a fully informed decision.

Primates: Pets

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ban the keeping of primates as pets.

David Heath: Anyone compromising the welfare of a primate or causing it any unnecessary suffering in the way it is being kept, is breaching the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and therefore already committing an offence. The Government therefore has no proposals to ban the keeping of primates as pets.

Recycling: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of waste collected in City of York was recycled in each year since 2008-09; and what funding his Department provided to City of York Council to increase recycling rates in each of those years.

Richard Benyon: The proportion of waste collected by the City of York Council that was recycled for the years 2008-09 to 2011-12 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial year Percentage recycled 
			 2008-09 44 
			 2009-10 42 
			 2010-11 44 
			 2011-12 46 
		
	
	The statistics include waste that was composted and items that were reused.
	DEFRA has not provided funding to the City of York council to increase recycling in the years specified.

Rural Areas: Broadband

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the rollout of broadband in rural areas.

Richard Benyon: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson), meets regularly with his counterpart at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to discuss roll-out of the £530 million rural broadband programme. We are determined to deliver this quickly to provide 90% of premises with superfast broadband at 24 megabits a second, and elsewhere with standard broadband of at least two megabits a second. Future discussions will also focus on the £250 million additional broadband funding announced as part of the spending review.

Sky Lanterns

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will take steps to introduce a total ban on the sale of Chinese lanterns.

Jo Swinson: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
	I refer the hon. Member for Llanelli to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Derby North (Chris Williamson), on 4 July 2013, Official Report, column 775W.

Vending Machines

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many vending machines in his Department's premises contain snack foods that are high in calories and low in nutritional value.

Richard Benyon: holding answer 5 July 2013
	The premises occupied by core DEFRA do not have vending machines.

Youth Work

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much funding his Department allocated for youth work in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: Core DEFRA does not have a central budget for youth work. It would be of disproportionate cost to identify if youth work was allocated funding by specific policy projects.

JUSTICE

Defamation Act 2013

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when each of the provisions of the Defamation Act 2013, not yet in force, will be enacted. [R]

Helen Grant: We are taking forward the necessary procedural steps to enable the Act to be brought into force by the end of this year.

Human Trafficking

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the (a) nationality and (b) gender was of each suspected victims of trafficking referred to the Trafficking Victim Support Scheme operated by the Salvation Army in June 2013; in which (i) region, (ii) county and (iii) parliamentary constituency each of the suspected victims was found; and which agency referred each case to the scheme.

Helen Grant: In June 2013 there were 79 referrals to the Government-funded support service for adult victims of human trafficking in England and Wales administered by The Salvation Army. In the interests of victim safety only the region in which the victim was encountered is provided, and not the county or parliamentary constituency. Details are provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Nationality Gender Region Agency type 
			 Albanian Female Yorkshire Legal representative 
			 Albanian Female South Health services 
			 Albanian Female Yorkshire Home Office 
			 Albanian Female South East Home Office 
			 Albanian Female Yorkshire Home Office 
			 Albanian Female Wales Home Office 
			 Albanian Female South Other 
			 Albanian Female South Home Office 
			 Albanian Female West Midlands Police 
			 Angolan Female Yorkshire Home Office 
			 Bangladeshi Male South East NGO 
			 British Male Yorkshire NGO 
			 Bulgarian Female South East Police 
			 Cameroonian Female South East NGO 
		
	
	
		
			 Canadian Female South East Home Office 
			 Chinese Male East Midlands Home Office 
			 Dutch Trans-gender Yorkshire NGO 
			 Ethiopian Female North West Home Office 
			 Gambian Female Yorkshire Home Office 
			 Ghanaian Male South West Self referral 
			 Hungarian Female North West Police 
			 Hungarian Female East Police 
			 Hungarian Female Yorkshire Police 
			 Hungarian Male Not Known Self referral 
			 Indian Female West Midlands Home Office 
			 Iranian Male Yorkshire Home Office 
			 Kenyan Female Wales NGO 
			 Laotian Female Yorkshire Self referral 
			 Latvian Female South Police 
			 Latvian Female South Police 
			 Liberian Male South Self referral 
			 Lithuanian Female South Police 
			 Lithuanian Male East GLA 
			 Lithuanian Female East GLA 
			 Lithuanian Female South East Police 
			 Lithuanian Male South East Police 
			 Lithuanian Female Wales NGO 
			 Lithuanian Male North West NGO 
			 Lithuanian Female North West NGO 
			 Lithuanian Male Yorkshire Police 
			 Lithuanian Female Yorkshire Police 
			 Nigerian Female Wales Home Office 
			 Nigerian Female Yorkshire Home Office 
			 Nigerian Female South East NGO 
			 Nigerian Female South East Self referral 
			 Nigerian Female North East Home Office 
			 Nigerian Female South East Home Office 
			 Nigerian Male South East NGO 
			 Nigerian Female Wales Home Office 
			 Nigerian Female Wales Home Office 
			 Nigerian Female Yorkshire Home Office 
			 Nigerian Female South Self referral 
			 Nigerian Male Not Known Other 
			 Nigerian Female Yorkshire NGO 
			 Nigerian Female North West Home Office 
			 Pakistani Female North West Home Office 
			 Polish Male West Midlands Police 
			 Polish Male West Midlands Police 
			 Polish Male West Midlands Police 
			 Polish Male West Midlands Police 
			 Serbian Female North West Legal representative 
		
	
	
		
			 Sierra Leone Female South East Self referral 
			 Slovakian Male North East NGO 
			 Slovakian Male Yorkshire Police 
			 Slovakian Male Yorkshire Police 
			 Slovakian Male West Midlands NGO 
			 Slovakian Male East Midlands Police 
			 Ugandan Female South East NGO 
			 Ugandan Male South Self referral 
			 Ugandan Female South East Home Office 
			 Ugandan Female South East Home Office 
			 Ugandan Female South East Self referral 
			 Ugandan Male Not Known Home Office 
			 Vietnamese Male West Midlands Home Office 
			 Vietnamese Male South East Home Office 
			 Vietnamese Female West Midlands Home Office 
			 Vietnamese Male East Home Office 
			 Zambian Female Wales Self referral 
			 Zimbabwean Female North West Home Office

Legal Profession: Standards

Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent discussions he has had with the Bar Standards Board regarding the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates.

Helen Grant: The Secretary of State for Justice has not discussed the Quality Assurance Scheme for Advocates with the Bar Standards Board.

Salvation Army

Eleanor Laing: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the estimated cost of the Salvation Army's Trafficking Support Scheme will be in 2013-14; and what the cost of this scheme was in (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13.

Helen Grant: I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 26 June 2013, Official Report, column 290W.

Sick Leave

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many days on average staff of his Department in each pay grade were absent from work as a result of ill health in each of the last 12 months.

Helen Grant: The information requested for the Ministry of Justice is available for each quarter on a rolling 12-month basis in accordance with Cabinet Office reporting guidance:
	
		
			 Average working days lost per person 
			 Reporting month: June2012 September 2012 December 2012 March 2013 
			 Reporting period: 1 July 2011 to30 June 2012 1 October 2011 to30 September 2012 1 January 2012 to31 December 2012 1 April 2012 to31 March 2013 
			 AA 11.3 11.7 11.9 11.9 
			 AO 10.3 10.5 10.7 10.9 
			 EO 8.6 8.5 8.7 8.7 
		
	
	
		
			 HEO 5.2 5.9 5.5 5.7 
			 SEO 5.5 5.4 5.8 5.8 
			 G7 2.9 3.2 3.8 4.0 
			 G6 3.6 3.2 2.5 3.0 
			 SCS 1.5 1.7 2.3 2.3 
			 Total 9.4 9.6 9.8 9.9 
		
	
	A large proportion of staff absence is in the Prison Service and the challenges they face do not bear direct comparison with the working conditions of most civil servants. They perform a difficult, physical and sometimes dangerous job. Reducing sickness absence aligns with my Department's Smarter Government commitments and remains a workforce strategy priority within the Department.

Victim Support Schemes

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 24 June 2013, Official Report, column 25W, on victim support schemes, what plans he has to integrate victims' services with social services where vulnerable and persistently targeted victims of crime are concerned.

Helen Grant: The Government recognises the particular needs of vulnerable and persistently targeted victims, and we are committed to finding ways in which services can work together to ensure those needs are met.
	The Minister for Policing and Criminal Justice is currently leading a national group on Sexual Violence against Children and Vulnerable People, which recognises the need for effective partnerships across agencies at both national and local level; in developing the way in which victims are referred to and supported by services based on identified needs. Both the consultation on “Getting it Right for Victims and Witnesses” and “Improving the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime” have highlighted the importance of ensuring the needs of vulnerable and persistently targeted victims of crime are met both by the criminal justice agencies and wider services. PCCs will take on the commissioning of the majority of services for victims in 2014 and they will be well placed to work with local partners, including social services, to ensure the needs of victims are addressed.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Billing

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the average cost to her Department was of processing the payment of an invoice in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of invoices settled in that period her Department paid (a) electronically and (b) by cheque.

Hugh Robertson: The average cost of processing the payment of an invoice during the financial year April 2012 to March 2013 was £10.65.
	The Department has a general policy of making electronic payments. Cheques are only issued when required for legal services. For financial year 2012-13, the proportion of invoices paid electronically was 99.5 % and the proportion paid by cheque was 0.5%.

Food

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of all food procured for her Department was sourced from (a) British producers, (b) small and medium-sized enterprises and (c) producers which met British buying standards in the latest period for which figures are available.

Hugh Robertson: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which includes the Government Equalities Office does not procure any food.

Internet

Stephen McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance her Department issues to BT Openreach on ensuring equal treatment of all parts of the UK in terms of offering adequate internet speeds.

Edward Vaizey: The Government has a target to provide 90% superfast (24Mbps or greater) broadband coverage and universal availability of standard broadband. Local authorities and the devolved administrations are also able to set their own local targets as part of their broadband projects under the Government's rural broadband programme. Under this programme a network provider, such as BT Openreach, contracts with local authorities to deliver against the target.

National Lottery: Northern Ireland

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what the value of sales of National Lottery scratch cards has been in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what the value of national lottery ticket sales in Northern Ireland has been in each of the last five years.

Hugh Robertson: Sales figures for National Lottery games in Northern Ireland are recorded in a single Camelot sales area with Northern Scotland. National Lottery ticket and scratchcard sales are combined into a single sales figure. The most recent sales figures for the combined Northern Ireland and Northern Scotland region show total ticket and scratchcard sales of £395,086,321 for the year to March 31 2013. Figures for previous years are not available in a comparable format.

Sports: Children

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of five to 16 year olds take part in at least one planned sport activity per week.

Hugh Robertson: Latest Taking Part survey data, for October 2011 to September 2012, show that 76.0% of five to 10-year-olds did sport outside school and 94.4% of 11 to 15-year-olds did sport in or outside school, in the last week. Data and commentary have been published on the DCMS website:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/taking-part-october-2011-to-september-2012-supplementary-child-report--2

Sports: Children

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department is taking to increase the number of five to 16 year olds taking part in at least one planned sport activity per week.

Hugh Robertson: Over £1 billion is being invested into youth and community sport—helping to ensure the lasting legacy of the London 2012 Games and providing all young people the chance to begin a lifetime's habit of playing sport. This will be complemented by the recently announced £150 million School Sport Premium, which will see funds go directly into the hands of primary school head teachers, for them to spend on improving the quality of PE and sport for all their pupils.

Sports: Yorkshire and the Humber

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much her Department spent on sport in (a) Yorkshire and the Humber and (b) City of York local authority area in each year since 2004-05.

Hugh Robertson: DCMS, via Sport England, has invested over the period April 1 2004 to 31 March 2013, in (a) the Yorkshire and Humber region: £185,064,813 and in (b) the York local authority: £2,995,060. The funding is invested on the basis of applications for funding and the figures do not reflect the large amount of funding channelled through our key partners, such as National Governing Bodies of Sport, to increase participation.
	
		
			 Yorkshire and Humber total investment (both Exchequer and national lottery funding) 
			 Financial year £ 
			 2004-05 20,188,598 
			 2005-06 17,595,726 
			 2006-07 20,356,413 
			 2007-08 17,398,566 
			 2008-09 15,660,953 
			 2009-10 39,238,279 
			 2010-11 16,403,674 
			 2011-12 24,477,449 
		
	
	
		
			 2012-13 13,745,155 
			 Grand total 185,064,813 
		
	
	
		
			 York LA total investment (both Exchequer and national lottery funding) 
			 Financial year Total (£) 
			 2004-05 472,723 
			 2005-06 61,583 
			 2007-08 131,000 
			 2008-09 269,800 
			 2009-10 14,824 
			 2010-11 85,480 
			 2011-12 1,318,046 
			 2012-13 641,604 
			 Grand total 2,995,060

Written Questions: Government Responses

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she plans to reply to Question 157610, tabled on 21 May 2013 for ordinary written answer on 3 June 2013.

Hugh Robertson: DCMS officials have contacted the MPs office, and have now obtained a copy of the letter, which did not come through to the Department when it was originally sent; a reply will be sent shortly.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Business Premises: Leasehold

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress his Department has made since the publication of the Portas Review to encourage a contract of care between landlords and their commercial tenants by promoting the leasing code and supporting the use of lease structures other than upward-only rent reviews.

Mark Prisk: In February 2012, we requested the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and the British Retail Consortium to do more to support and distribute the Leasing Code. In July 2012, they responded by providing a model lease for small businesses, which is Leasing Code compliant and excludes rent reviews. We have written all local authorities asking them to join the British Property Federation's Commercial Landlords Accreditation Scheme, which, requires members to abide by the Leasing Code. We have also obtained the Rightmove website's support to promote the Leasing Code in their commercial property listings.

High Street Review

Jonathan Reynolds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when (a) he and (b) Ministers of his Department met Mary Portas to discuss the Portas review.

Mark Prisk: My predecessor as the Minister responsible for High Streets, my right hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps), met Mary Portas twice, and I have met her twice (September 2012 and February 2013) and I have spoken to her by phone.
	Officials have also had regular contact with her team to discuss the review and the work of the Portas pilots.

Housing

Therese Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government with reference to the introduction of the Single Local Growth Fund, how the New Homes Bonus will be allocated between (a) local enterprise partnerships, (b) county councils and (c) district councils, by proportion.

Mark Prisk: Local authorities have a crucial role to play in supporting housing and wider economic growth, but the local government finance system historically failed to reward housing and other growth. The coalition Government has put in place structural reforms to change the incentives for local authorities. From April 2013, local authorities in England are retaining half of the business rates that are raised locally, and the New Homes Bonus also provides funding for local authorities based on the homes that are built in their area.
	The Government's response to the Heseltine review (Cm 8587, March 2013) outlined our plans to empower local enterprise partnership to drive forward locally-led growth and enterprise. It also recommended the pooling of more financial resources to strengthen incentives for local enterprise partnerships and their partners to generate growth. In the spirit of joint working and greater collaboration, we believe that there is scope for pooling of resources from central and local government.
	As announced in ‘Investing in Britain's future’ (Cm 8669, June 2013), we intend that in 2015-16 £400 million from the New Homes Bonus will be pooled within local enterprise partnership areas to support strategic, locally-led housing and economic development priorities.
	Councils' local plans will remain as the focus for where development should and should not go. The pooling complements the duty to co-operate and the abolition of regional strategies introduced through the Localism Act. In particular, we hope it will encourage local authorities to work together on new developments which might cross council boundaries, and to help unlock the provision of cross-local authority infrastructure. It also gives local authorities an indirect financial stake in new housing build near but outside their council boundaries; whereas before, there was no mitigation for developments which placed strains or pressures on neighbouring councils.
	We will consult shortly on the mechanism to deliver the pooling arrangements.

Housing: Construction

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will consider introducing a requirement that at least 10 per cent of properties in new housing developments across the UK should be wheelchair accessible or easily adaptable to wheelchair access.

Mark Prisk: Housing standards in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the devolved Administrations. In England, accessible housing standards are being considered as part of the Housing Standards Review, on which a consultation will be published shortly.

Landlords: Urban Areas

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress he has made following the Portas review on introducing a public register of high street landlords.

Mark Prisk: We did not commit to this policy in the Government's response to the Portas review, as we believe that local authorities are best placed to lead on this. We made it clear when responding to the Portas review we want local authorities to compile a public register of high street landlords to help Town Teams. We are also considering further solutions to improve the information that is available.

Local Government Finance: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding his Department allocated to City of York council for (a) local authority supported capital expenditure in housing stock and (b) major repairs allowance in 2009-10 and in each year since then.

Mark Prisk: The allocation figures for the City of York's subsidy capital financing requirement and major repairs allowance are given in the following table. housing revenue account subsidy was abolished under the Localism Act 2011 and replaced with self-financing for local housing authorities from 1 April 2012. The data shown for 2012-13 are the subsidy-equivalent figures.
	
		
			 £ 
			  Subsidy capital financing requirement Major repairs allowance/dwelling Major repairs allowance total 
			 2009-10 23,240,184 639.97 5,127,431 
			 2010-11 23,440,184 656.70 5,242,423 
			 2011-12 23,811,616 651.84 5,185,365 
			 2012-13 22,944,000 846.60 6,693,220

Local Government: Powers

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many local authorities have utilised the general power of competence created by section 1 of the Localism Act 2011 to date; and if he will make a statement.

Brandon Lewis: The general power of competence was designed to allow local authorities—including certain parish councils—to act innovatively without being found by the courts to have acted outside the law. It gives councils confidence in their legal capacity to act both for communities and in their own financial interest to generate efficiencies and savings. The Government expects councils to use the power as their primary tool without constantly looking back to Whitehall for permission. While I regularly speak with councils who are acting innovatively, local authorities are under no obligation to notify the Government when they rely on the power nor does the Government monitor use of the power, so it is not possible for me to quantify how many councils are using the power.
	However, I would add that councils up and down the country are using the general power of competence to hold prayers at the start of council meetings (further to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government’s written ministerial statement of 20 February 2012, Official Report, columns 61-62WS). This illustrates how it has become an everyday part of the workings of local government.

Out of Town Shopping Centres

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress he has made following the Portas Review to introduce exceptional sign off for all new out-of-town developments and require all large new developments to have an affordable shops quota.

Mark Prisk: The Government's response to the Portas review, published in March 2012, made clear that we did not endorse this particular recommendation and would not be taking it forward.
	The National Planning Policy Framework asks local councils to recognise town centres as the hearts of their communities and pursue policies to support their viability and vitality. It sets out clearly that local councils should require new town centre uses to be located in existing town centres out of preference. It also sets out that where there are no suitable and viable sites in town centres for new main town centre uses, permission should be refused where a proposal outside of a town centre would have a likely significant adverse impact on existing town centres. My the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), already has wide discretion to call-in planning applications of sufficient significance for his determination, which would include consideration as to whether proposals conflict with our policy on town centres. Although the Government clearly supports the affordability of shops, we are concerned that requiring a quota of affordable shops in all large new development would have adverse impacts on town centres.

Rough Sleepers

Julie Hilling: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the ruling in the case of OR v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Isle of Anglesey CC [2013] UKUT 06S (AAC) on the Government's delivery of the No Second Night Out initiative.

Mark Prisk: All local authorities have introduced a No Second Night Out scheme or signed up to doing so this year.
	In London, No Second Night Out is making a big difference. The latest CHAIN 2012-13 annual data shows that No Second Night Out helped ensure that 75% of new rough sleepers spend just a single night on London's streets.
	Elsewhere, in its year of operation, 683 people approached Merseyside's No Second Night Out hub for support (incorporating six local authorities) with only two returning to the streets.
	We shall continue to review progress of the No Second Night Out which is offering real help to rough sleepers and reducing the time people spend on the streets.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to ensure Gypsy and Traveller sites are not placed in (a) rural villages and (b) other inappropriate locations.

Brandon Lewis: Our “Planning Policy for Traveller Sites” makes absolutely clear that Traveller sites are inappropriate development in the Green Belt and that they should be strictly limited in the open countryside. It also requires that careful attention is given to the scale, location and design of traveller sites in order to ensure all sites are appropriate. Local planning authorities should plan to meet their objectively assessed needs for Travellers in a way which is consistent with planning policy, taking account of the views of their communities in doing so.
	On 1 July 2013, Official Report, columns 24-25WS, in a statement to Parliament the Government announced that it would, for a period of six months, consider recovering more Traveller appeals in the Green Belt in order to carefully consider the extent to which Planning Policy for Traveller Sites is meeting its clear intentions. The Government has also brought forward a range of measures to assist local planning authorities in dealing swiftly and effectively with unauthorised traveller sites, including stronger powers to deal with retrospective and vexatious applications and greater freedom to take appropriate enforcement action.
	A more detailed list of measures we have taken is outlined in my answer of 25 April 2013, Official Report, columns 1132-33W.

Urban Areas: Empty Property

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what progress has been made on the Portas Review recommendation to encourage banks with empty high street properties to either administer or sell such assets;
	(2)  what progress has been made on the Portas Review recommendation to empower local authorities to step in when landlords are negligent with new empty shop management orders;
	(3)  what progress has been made on the Portas Review recommendation to persuade local authorities to use compulsory purchase orders to encourage the redevelopment of key high street retail space.

Mark Prisk: In the Government's response to the Portas review in March 2012, we recognised the importance of these recommendations and set out our position.
	Empty properties can visibly bring down the attractiveness and prosperity of a high street but may reflect the changing nature of the high street. A property may be empty on account of various issues, not least lack of interest from a suitable tenant. Punitive measures to force landlords to lease their properties would not be effective in creating a sustainable high street and would risk interfering with fundamental private property rights.
	We remain of the view that local authorities have sufficient powers to act to get property back into use. In addition to their compulsory purchase powers, local authorities can use section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act to take action to require land to be cleaned up when its condition adversely affects the amenity of an area.
	The Government has also committed £235 million of direct funding, to help local authorities, housing associations and community groups tackle the most problematic empty properties, which would not otherwise come back into use. The last funding round had a particular emphasis on refurbishing former commercial and high street properties.
	The Future High Streets Forum was established in March 2013, and brings together leaders across retail, property and business to better understand the competition faced by town centres across the country and drive forward new ideas and policies.
	An industry-led taskforce has been established to explore distressed commercial property and its causes. This is due to publish its report in the autumn.

Urban Areas: Regeneration

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he has taken following the Portas review to urge developers to make financial contributions to ensure that the local community has a strong voice in the planning system.

Nicholas Boles: The Government is committed to enabling individuals and community groups to have a greater say over every aspect of their area, including their high streets.
	Neighbourhood planning is enabling communities to come together and decide for themselves where new houses, businesses and shops should go. In areas with a Neighbourhood Plan in place, local communities will receive 25% of local Community Infrastructure Levy receipts. In other areas it will be a still highly significant 15%. Communities can spend this money on any infrastructure and associated services they want, to address the demands that development places on the area. At end of June, more than 550 Neighbourhood Plans are being developed.
	In addition, local authorities now benefit from new development—the New Homes Bonus recognises increases in housing stock, and local government now keeps half their business rates, and the growth in that share. In turn, councils can spend these funds as they see fit—from community benefits, to supporting frontline services to keeping council tax down.

Wind Power: Planning Permission

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will place in the Library a list of all the onshore wind planning appeals in England that have been (a) recovered and (b) not recovered by his Department for decision in each year since 2010.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 2 July 2013
	Each decision to recover a planning appeal for the Secretary of State’s own decision is treated on its individual merits in line with the published criteria.
	http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/pins/ministerial-statement.pdf
	The number of appeals involving wind turbines that have been recovered in the period in question are as follows:
	
		
			  Number of appeals 
			 2010-11 5 
			 2011-12 3 
			 20120-13 3 
			 To date in 2013-14 10 
		
	
	I have placed a list of recovered appeals in the Library of the House.
	The Planning Inspectorate records all types of renewable energy schemes received per annum, of which only some are for wind turbines. Numbers vary for each year and for the three full years there were 113, 165 and 286 renewable energy schemes received. It would be disproportionate to set out each appeal as requested by the hon. Member.

EDUCATION

Early Intervention Grant

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the value of the early intervention grant will be in (a) 2014-15 and (b) 2015-16.

Brandon Lewis: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government.
	Details of local authority funding will be set out in due course in the Local Government Finance settlements for 2014-15 and 2015-16.

Education: Fees and Charges

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many (a) further education colleges, (b) sixth form colleges, (c) secondary schools, (d) primary schools, (e) nursery schools and (f) schools covering more than one of these types (i) charge fees and (ii) do not charge fees; and whether such fees vary on the basis of the child's home country.

David Laws: Only independent schools are permitted to charge fees for education services for their pupils. Information on the reasons for variability in fee rates (such as country of birth) is not collected centrally.
	The Education Funding Agency holds data on the institutions that it funds but not private further education colleges. In 2012/13, the Education Funding Agency funded 94 sixth form colleges and 241 further education colleges. Learners who meet the criteria set out in The Education (Fees and Awards) (England) Regulations 2007 are eligible for funding. Colleges are not allowed to charge fees to UK and EU students aged 16 to 19 who are undertaking a course of further education, but can charge fees to older students, those undertaking a higher education programme of study and non-UK/EU students.

Education: Worcestershire

Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Education which capital projects his Department has supported with what level of funding for academies, schools and colleges in (a) Worcester constituency and (b) Worcestershire since May 2010.

David Laws: The Department for Education allocates a significant amount of capital funding to local authorities so that they have the freedom to decide upon their school investment needs according to local priorities. The Department does not collect information on how these funds have been used.
	The capital support allocated to Worcestershire, and its schools, since the financial, year 2010-11 is given in the following table:
	
		
			 Financial year Capital support(1) (£ million) 
			 2010-11 32.0 
		
	
	
		
			 2011-12 30.5 
			 2012-13 26.8 
			 2013-14 (provisional) 14.9 
			 (1) These figures include £6.9 million of funding provided directly to academies through the Academies Capital Maintenance Fund (ACMF).

Pupils: Yorkshire and the Humber

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much (a) revenue and (b) capital funding was provided per pupil in state (i) primary and (ii) secondary schools in (A) York Local Authority and (B) Yorkshire and the Humber in each year since 1995-96 (1) in cash terms and (2) at 2013 prices.

David Laws: York only became a local authority in 1996-97, as a result of local government reorganisation, so comparable funding data is only available from this date.
	Average per pupil revenue funding figures, from the Department to local authorities, for pupils aged 3-10 (primary) and 11-15 (secondary) for York alone, and the Yorkshire and Humber region on average, for years 1997-98 to 2005-06 are as follows. These figures are in cash terms:
	
		
			 Average per pupil revenue funding (cash) 
			  1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 
			 York LA (primary) 1,866 2,002 2,184 2,397 2,574 2,702 2,893 3,064 3,337 
			 York LA (secondary) 2,608 2,751 2,909 3,242 3,423 3,575 3,699 3,970 4,227 
			           
			 Yorkshire and Humber average (primary) 1,943 2,086 2,288 2,539 2,766 2,931 3,220 3,400 3,689 
			 Yorkshire and Humber average (secondary) 2,724 2,859 3,047 3,376 3,629 3,806 4,004 4,280 4,563 
			 Notes: 1. Price base: cash. 2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of standard spending assessment (SSA)/education formula spending (EFS) settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EFS and Learning and Skills Council (LSC). 3. Funding also includes all revenue grants in DFE departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged 3-15 and excludes education maintenance allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level. 4. Where responsibility for funding a school has transferred from an authority, related funding no longer appears in the series. 5. The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to £ per pupil are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC 3-year-old maintained pupils and estimated 3 to 4-year-olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers. 6. Rounding: per pupil figures are rounded to the nearest £1. 
		
	
	These figures are in real terms:
	
		
			 Average per pupil revenue funding (real) 
			  1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 
			 York LA (primary) 2,599 2,736 2,927 3,190 3,334 3,421 3,593 3,703 3,961 
			 York LA (secondary) 3,632 3,760 3,899 4,314 4,435 4,526 4,594 4,798 5,017 
			           
		
	
	
		
			 Yorkshire and Humber average (primary) 2,706 2,851 3,067 3,379 3,584 3,711 3,999 4,109 4,379 
			 Yorkshire and Humber average (secondary) 3,793 3,907 4,084 4,492 4,702 4,819 4,973 5,173 5,416 
			 Notes: 1. Price base: real terms at 2012-13 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 27 June 2013. 2. Figures reflect relevant sub-blocks of standard spending assessment/education formula spending (EFS) settlements and exclude the pensions transfer to EFS and LSC. 3. Funding also includes all revenue grants in DFE departmental expenditure limits relevant to pupils aged 3-15 and exclude education maintenance allowances (EMAs) and grants not allocated at LEA level. 4. Where responsibility for funding a school has transferred from an authority, related funding no longer appears in the series. 5. The pupil numbers used to convert £ million figures to £ per pupil are those underlying the SSA/EFS settlement calculations plus PLASC 3-year-old maintained pupils and estimated 3 to 4-year-olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers. 6. Rounding: per pupil figures are rounded to the nearest £1. 
		
	
	The total revenue funding per pupil shown in the following table are for the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). They are not comparable with those for the years 1997-98 to 2005-06 because the introduction of the DSG in 2006-07 fundamentally changed how local authorities are funded.
	The 1997-98 to 2005-06 figures are based on education formula spending (EFS) which formed the education part of the Local Government Finance Settlement, plus various grants. This was an assessment of what local authorities needed to fund education rather than what they spent. The DSG is based largely on an authority's previous spending. In addition, the DSG has a different coverage to EFS. EFS comprised a schools block and an LEA block (to cover LEA central functions) whereas DSG only covers the school block. LEA block items are still funded through DCLG's Local Government Finance Settlement but education items cannot be separately identified. Consequently, there is a break in the Department's time series as the two sets of data are not comparable.
	To provide a comparison for 2006-07 DSG, the Department has isolated the schools block equivalent funding in 2005-06; as described above this does not represent the totality of 'education' funding in that year.
	The total and per pupil revenue funding figures for years 2005-06 to 2010-11 for York are provided in the following table. The following figures are for all funded pupils aged 3-15 and are in cash terms:
	
		
			 Average revenue per pupil funding (DSG + grants cash) 
			  2005-06 baseline 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 York LA 3,680 3,860 4,120 4,340 4,530 4,740 4,660 4,660 
			 Yorkshire and Humber (average) 3,890 4,120 4,410 4,610 4,810 5,050 4,960 4,960 
			 Notes: 1. Up to 2010-11 this covers funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant, School Standards Grant, School Standards Grant (Personalisation) and Standards Fund; it excludes grants which are not allocated at LA level. 2. Price base: cash. 3. These figures are for all funded pupils aged 3-15. 4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £10. 5. In 2011-12, most separate grants were mainstreamed in to the DSG. The exceptions were grants that were time-limited and planned to end in 2010-11. 6. Figures do not include the pupil premium. Details of which are shown separately. 
		
	
	These figures are in real terms:
	
		
			 Average per pupil revenue funding (DSG + grants real) 
			  2005-06 baseline 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 
			 York LA 4,370 4,450 4,630 4,760 4,830 4,930 4,730 4,660 
			 Yorkshire and Humber (average) 4,610 4,760 4,960 5,050 5,120 5,240 5,030 4,960 
			 Notes: 1. Up to 2010-11 this covers funding through the Dedicated Schools Grant, School Standards Grant, School Standards Grant (Personalisation) and Standards Fund; it excludes grants which are not allocated at LA level. 2. Price base: real terms at 2012-13 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 27 June 2013. 3. These figures are for all funded pupils aged 3-15. 4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £10. 5. In 2011-12, most separate grants were mainstreamed in to the DSG. The exceptions were grants that were time-limited and planned to end in 2010-11. 6. Figures do not include pupil premium. Details of which are shown separately. 
		
	
	The DSG plus grants figures up to 2010-11 do not include funding from the Learning and Skills Council to ensure that figures are on the basis of funding for pupils aged 3 to 15 and are comparable with 2011-12 and 2012-13 figures.
	In 2013-14, the DSG was reformed to allocate funding to LAs in three blocks (Schools, Early Years and High Needs) and so figures are not comparable to previous years. For information, the Schools Block unit of funding for York is £4,209 (£4,114 at 2012-13 prices) and for the Yorkshire and Humberside region an average unit of funding of £4,534 (£4,432 at 2012-13 prices).
	Since 2011-12 schools have received the pupil premium which targets funding at pupils from the most deprived backgrounds to help them achieve their full potential. In 2011-12, the premium was allocated for each pupil known to be eligible for free school meals, looked after children and children of parents in the armed services. In 2012-13 coverage was expanded to include pupils known to have been eligible for free school meals at any point in the last six years. The amounts per pupil amounts for each type of pupil are shown in following table in cash terms:
	
		
			 Pupil premium per pupil 
			 £ 
			  2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 
			 Free school meal pupil and looked after children 488 623 900 
			 Service children 200 250 300 
		
	
	Total pupil premium allocations for York local authority and the Yorkshire and Humberside region for each year are shown in the following table in cash terms:
	
		
			 Pupil premium allocations 
			 £ million 
			  2011-12 2012-13 2013-14(1) 
			 York 1.284 2.567 3.687 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 65.644 126.372 182.284 
			 (1) Allocations for 2013-14 are indicative based on January 2012 pupil numbers. Final allocations for 2013-14 will be based on January 2013 pupil numbers. 
		
	
	These figures are in real terms:
	
		
			 Pupil premium allocations 
			 £ million 
			  2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 
			 York 1.303 2.567 3.604 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 66.632 126.372 178.186 
			 Note: Price base: real terms at 2012-13 prices, based on GDP deflators as at 27 June 2013. 
		
	
	The following table shows capital funding for the financial years that are available. The data are in cash terms as allocations are phased across more than one year making real terms calculations meaningless. Complete information on the split of capital between phases of education is not held centrally.
	
		
			 £ million 
			  Capital allocations(1) PFI credits(2) 
			  York Yorkshire and the Humber York Yorkshire and the Humber 
			 1996-97 0.8 57.5 — — 
			 1997-98 1.3 52.1 — — 
			 1998-99 1.8 90.7 — 2.0 
			 1999-2000 4.5 151.3 — 62.8 
			 2000-01 7.4 243.3 — 86.0 
			 2001-02 4.8 245.2 — 45.2 
			 2002-03 9.2 310.5 — 1.1 
			 2003-04 11.1 305.4 — 188.9 
			 2004-05 11.4 326.6 15.4 273.2 
			 2005-06 10.7 386.3 — — 
			 2006-07 23.0 281.9 — 255.4 
			 2007-08 19.3 380,3 — 179.2 
			 2008-09 26.7 371.5 — 4.5 
			 2009-10 23.1 510.5 — 423.8 
			 2010-11 18.4 701.4 — 348.7 
			 2011-12 8.0 437.6 — — 
			 2012-13 8.9 354.0 — — 
			 2013/14 (provisional) 6.5 207.4   
			 "—" Indicates that no funding was given in that year. (1) Capital allocations includes capital grant and supported borrowing allocations. (2) PFI credit allocations are counted at financial close. Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest £100,000.

School Meals

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the changes in total public spending in England on school meals in (a) cash and (b) real terms in each year from 2010; and if he will make a statement.

David Laws: The Department does not collect data on schools' spending on school meals, so we do not have an estimate of the total public spending on school meals. Schools do not receive specified funding for the costs of meals from the Government.
	Schools must provide free school meals to eligible children. The cost of free school meals is met by schools from their overall schools budget. Local authorities and schools determine how much is allocated for free school meals based on the circumstances in their area. We estimate the cost of free school meals to be around £460 million per year.

Schools: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what capital funding was allocated by his Department to schools in the City of York in each year since 1995-96.

David Laws: The following table shows capital allocations to City of York council and its schools for the financial years since 1996-97. Comparable information for 1995-96 and earlier is not centrally available.
	
		
			 £ million 
			 Financial year Capital allocations(1) PFI credits(2) 
			 1996-97 0.8 — 
			 1997-98 1.3 — 
			 1998-99 1.8 — 
			 1999-2000 4.5 — 
			 2000-01 7.4 — 
			 2001-02 4.8 — 
			 2002-03 9.2 — 
			 2003-04 11.1 — 
			 2004-05 11.4 15.4 
			 2005-06 10.7 — 
			 2006-07 23.0 — 
			 2007-08 19.3 — 
			 2008-09 26.7 — 
			 2009-10 23.1 — 
			 2010-11 18.4 — 
			 2011-12 8.0 — 
			 2612-13 8.9 — 
			 2013-14 (prov) 6.5 — 
			 (1) Includes capital grant and supported borrowing allocations. (2) Allocations counted at financial close.

Teachers: Pay

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the change was in the average salary of a (a) primary school teacher, (b) primary school head teacher, (c) secondary school teacher and (d) secondary school head teacher in (i) cash and (ii) real terms in each year since 2010; and if he will make a statement.

David Laws: The following table provides the gross average salary of full-time regular qualified classroom teachers, head teachers and all teachers in service in publicly funded primary and secondary schools in cash terms and real terms in England, from the School Workforce Censuses in November 2010 to November 2012.
	It is difficult to use the figures requested to estimate pay increases for teachers. The size of average year on year pay changes will be obscured by the inflow and outflow of teachers. For example, new entrants to the work force (mostly classroom teachers) will generally be paid much less than those people leaving, especially retiring leadership group teachers.
	
		
			 Average salary of full-time regular classroom teachers, heads and all teachers in service in publicly funded primary(1) and secondary schools in cash and real terms(2), November 2010 to November 2012, England 
			  Cash terms (£) Real terms(2 )(£) 
			 2012   
			 Primary(1,2)   
			 Classroom teachers 32,200 32,200 
			 Heads 58,700 58,700 
			 All teachers 36,200 36,200 
			    
			 Secondary(2)   
			 Classroom teachers 35,600 35,600 
			 Heads 87,400 87,400 
			 All teachers 38,500 38,500 
		
	
	
		
			    
			 2011(1)   
			 Primary(1,2)   
			 Classroom teachers 32,500 33,300 
			 Heads 58,300 59,600 
			 All teachers 36,500 37,300 
			    
			 Secondary(2)   
			 Classroom teachers 36,100 37,000 
			 Heads 87,100 89,100 
			 All teachers 38,900 39,800 
			    
			 2010(1)   
			 Primary(1,2)   
			 Classroom teachers 32,600 34,200 
			 Heads 57,700 60,500 
			 All teachers 36,600 38,400 
			    
			 Secondary(2)   
			 Classroom teachers 36,200 38,000 
			 Heads 85,600 89,800 
			 All teachers 38,900 40,800 
			 (1) Includes local authority maintained nursery schools. (2) Real terms figures calculated at 2011-12 prices using 27 June 2013 GDP deflators. These are available from the following web HM treasury web link together with further information about the methodology employed: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gdp-deflators-at-market-prices-and-money-gdp-march-2013 Source: School Workforce Census

Teachers: Training

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that all curriculum subjects have provision for bursaries for teacher training.

David Laws: Bursary levels for post-graduate fee-based initial teacher training (ITT) courses are set each year in response to recruitment performance and Government priorities. An announcement on bursary levels for post-graduate fee-based ITT courses beginning in 2014/15 will be made in due course.

Teachers: Training

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to ensure that all subjects designated as part of the core curriculum have resources made available for the continuing professional development of their teachers.

David Laws: The Government believes that schools are best placed to decide what resources are needed for the continuing professional development of their teachers and secure them accordingly. This includes their ability to deliver the core curriculum.
	Many schools will share priorities around the core subjects, so we are working with subject experts, publishers, educational suppliers and others to identify what further support schools may need.
	We are also ensuring that existing opportunities funded by the Government meet the needs of the new national curriculum. For example, the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) has recently released free video training materials focused on calculation. We have also extended match funding of £3,000 per school for phonics materials and training until October 2013.

Teachers: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the gross average salary of a full-time teacher in local authority schools in the City of York was in (a) cash and (b) real terms in each year since 1995-96.

David Laws: The following table provides the gross average salary of full-time regular qualified teachers in service in local authority maintained schools in cash terms and real terms for York local authority, in each March, 1997 to 2009 and November 2010 to November 2011.
	The cash terms decrease between 2010 and 2011 will have been impacted by a reduction in the number of secondary local authority maintained schools and an increase in the number of academies. This increases the proportion of primary teachers in the local authority maintained sector, who have tower average salaries.
	
		
			 Average salary of full-time regular qualified teachers(1) in service in local authority maintained schools in cash and real terms(2) March 1997 to March 2009(3) and November 2010 to November 2011. 
			  City of York council 
			 As at March each year: Cash terms (£) Real terms (£) 
			 1996(4) 19,700 26,100 
			 1997(4) 22,600 29,900 
			 1998(4) 23,200 31,100 
			 1999(4) 24,100 31,700 
			 2000(4) 24,900 32,200 
			 2001(4) 26,900 34,500 
			 2002(4) 27,800 34,700 
			 2003(4) 29,700 36,200 
			 2004(4) 30,600 36,600 
			 2005(4) 32,100 37,400 
			 2006(4) 33,100 37,800 
			 2007(4) 34,300 38,100 
			 2008(4) (7)— (7)— 
			 2009(4) 35,900 37,800 
			 As at November:   
			 2010(5) 37,600 38,600 
			 2011(5, 6) 37,200 37,200 
			 (1) Teachers of all grades including school leadership. Regular teachers are those with a permanent or fixed term contract of 28 days or more. (2) Real terms figures calculated at 2010-11 prices using 27 June 2013 GDP deflators. These are available from the following web HM treasury web link together with further information about the methodology employed: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gdp-deflators-at-market-prices-and-money-gdp-march-2013 (3) Provisional. (4) Database of Teacher Records. (5) Source: School Workforce Census. (6) The cash terms decrease between 2010 and 2011 is likely to be due to a reduction in the number of secondary local authority maintained schools and an increase in the number of academies. This increases the proportion of primary teachers in the local authority maintained sector, who have lower average salaries. (7) Figures are not sufficiently reliable.

TREASURY

Bank Cards: Fees and Charges

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the financial effects of proposed European Commission regulations of interchange fees on (a) debit cardholders, (b) credit cardholders and (c) small businesses.

Sajid Javid: The European Commission is expected to publish a legislative proposal by summer 2013 to regulate multilateral interchange fees on card payments. The proposal will be accompanied by an impact assessment.
	The Government will make its own assessment of the legislative proposal once the proposal is published.

Barclays

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has discussed the proposed suspension of money transfer services by Barclays bank with the CEO or directors of Barclays.

David Gauke: The Government is committed to supporting a healthy and legitimate remittance sector, and ensuring that UK citizens are able to continue to remit funds safely to family abroad. As such, work has been under way for some time on addressing and reducing risk in this area.
	In light of decisions taken by banks, both nationally and internationally (including the recent decision by Barclays), to withdraw banking services from many of the smaller firms in this sector, Ministers and officials are continuing to engage with relevant stakeholders, including banks, trade associations and Money Service Businesses on this issue.
	This includes working to seek to manage the impact this will have on businesses and communities in the UK, as well as exploring with these firms any viable alternatives for those individuals in the UK, and in developing countries, who rely on remittances services.

British Transport Police

Alok Sharma: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse in 2015-16 of restoring spending on the Transport Police to the level it would have been without the decisions made in the 2010 Spending Review and 2013 Spending Round.

Danny Alexander: The Treasury has not made an estimate of this cost.

Broadband

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost to the public purse would be of extending the broadband network to cover 100 per cent of premises in the UK by 2015-16.

Danny Alexander: The current rural superfast broadband programme contains a commitment for universal service provision of at least 2 megabits per second broadband. No assessment has yet been made of the costs of extending the superfast broadband network to 100% of UK premises. Government committed at spending round 2013 to working with industry to develop options by the end of 2013 to deliver fixed, wireless and mobile broadband to at least 99% of premises by 2018.

Civil Servants: Pay

Tom Clarke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the annual pay settlement in the Civil Service was between 1997 and 2010.

Danny Alexander: The annual civil service pay guidance sets out the process to be followed by all bodies covered by the pay-remit process (main and non-ministerial departments, executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies), when planning annual pay awards to their staff and preparing their pay remits.
	The following table shows, where available, the amount of the annual pay increase expected to be implemented by civil service Departments and their arm’s length bodies, falling within the scope of the guidance between 2000-01 and 2010-11:
	
		
			  Pay remit 
			 2000-01 3%, of which 2.5% consolidated pay award, 0.50% non-consolidated pay award. 
			 2001-02 3%, of which 2.5% consolidated pay award, 0.50% non-consolidated pay award. 
			 2002-03 3%, of which 2.5% consolidated pay award, 0.50% non-consolidated pay award. 
			 2003-04 2.5% 
			 2004-05 3.5% earnings growth. 
			 2005-06 3.5% earnings growth. 
			 2006-07 2-3.5% Increase for Staff in Post (ISP)(1) for higher paying Departments and 3.5 to 4.5% ISP for low paying Departments. 
			 2007-08 Basic award no more than 2%. ISP to range from 1.5% to 4% with the expectation that the average will be below 3.5%. 
			 2008-09 Basic awards to be no more than 2%. ISP awards to range from 1.5% to 4% 
			 2009-10 Average basic award in the region of 1.5%. Adjustment to the ISP parameters set from 1 % to 4% 
			 2010-11 Basic awards within range 0-1%. Increase for Staff in post (ISP) 0-2%. 
			 (1) Increase for Staff in Post: Average cost of pay increases for staff remaining In the same grade/responsibility, including the basic award and any other increases.

Health and Social Care Act 2012

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the (a) resource and (b) capital costs to the public purse of repealing the Health and Social Care Act in the fiscal year 2015-16, broken down by resource spending and capital spending.

Danny Alexander: No such estimate has been made.

Infrastructure

Geraint Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the region and financial year breakdown is of the infrastructure investment contained within his Department's Investing in Britain's Future document, published in July 2013.

Danny Alexander: holding answer 9 July 2013
	A regional breakdown can be found on page 12 of Investing in Britain's Future. In Wales most key infrastructure decisions are a matter for the Welsh Government. But I can confirm the Welsh Government will see a real terms rise in their capital budget in 2015-16, and Wales will also benefit from UK investment in a new prison in North Wales, further work on the M4 in south Wales alongside a response to the Silk Commission, and previously committed schemes like the electrification of the Great Western Mainline to Swansea.
	A financial year breakdown of specific transport schemes is included on page 8 of the document. The Government has also committed £21 billion for schools over the financial years 2015-16 to 2020-21, £7 billion for science over the financial years 2015-16 to 2020-21, £3.3 billion for affordable housing over the financial years 2015-16 to 2017-19, £2.3 billion for flood defences over the financial years 2015-16 to 2020-21, and at least £2 billion per annum for the Single Local Growth Fund for the financial years 2015-16 to 2020-21.

Pensions

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer against how many pension liberation schemes HM Revenue and Customs has taken punitive action to date.

David Gauke: Because of the way in which records are maintained it is not possible to differentiate between the number of schemes Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has taken enforcement action against in connection with liberation, as opposed to other activities for which compliance action is also appropriate.
	HMRC has a strong compliance regime to detect and pursue those who deliberately bend or break the rules by offering schemes to access pension savings other than as intended by Parliament. HMRC is part of a cross-government task force set up to counter liberation activity, called “Project Bloom”.

Poverty: Children

Stephen Timms: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect of the (a) 2012 autumn statement, (b) 2013 Budget and (c) 2013 spending review on the number of children living in (i) absolute poverty and (ii) relative poverty.

David Gauke: HM Treasury has not measured the impact of fiscal events on the narrow relative or absolute income measures of child poverty, as the Government strongly believes that looking at relative income in isolation is not a helpful measure to track progress towards the target of eradicating child poverty.
	The Government has sought a wide range of views as part of a consultation on better measures of child poverty, which include income, but also wider measures to tackle the root causes of poverty, including worklessness and educational failure. The Government will respond to this consultation in due course.

Pre-school Education: Finance

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his proposals on the new national funding formula for schools will include early years education for those under five years old.

David Laws: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department for Education.
	The Government is considering the implications of a national funding formula for early years education and will make an announcement in due course.

Public Sector: Redundancy

Jonathan Ashworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of potential public sector redundancies up to May 2015.

Danny Alexander: The Treasury has not made such an estimate.
	The current Office for Budget Responsibility forecast predicts that general government employment will fall from 5.2 million at the start of 2013 to 4.9 million by the second quarter of 2015.
	The next publication of the Whole of Government Accounts will provide total numbers of redundancies in the public sector in 2011-12. This will be published on 17 July.

Remittances

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the total value of financial flows remitted by diaspora communities via UK-based money transfer services to (a) Somaliland, (b) Somalia, (c) Bangladesh, (d) Pakistan, (e) India, (f) Yemen and (g) Sudan in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Gauke: The Treasury does not hold information on financial flows relating to diaspora communities in the UK. The Treasury relies on the Office for National Statistics (ONS)for data on UK transfers. The ONS does not publish separate estimates for remittances as they are not considered to be of sufficient quality. Instead, estimates for remittances are combined with estimates for net transfers from UK charities, defined in the UK Balance of Payments (the Pink Book) as 'other payments by households'.
	The latest data from the World Bank's Bilateral Remittance Matrix estimates remittances totalled US$23.16 billion from the UK in 2011. Remittances to India totalled US$3.90 billion, to Pakistan US$1.34 billion, to Bangladesh US$740 million, to Sudan US$31 million and to Yemen is US$23 million. No comparable data exists for Somalia and Somaliland. Work is under way by the Government and private sector stakeholders to assess the reliance on money remittance services by such communities.

Revenue and Customs: North East

Ian Lavery: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent by HM Revenue and Customs on advertising the pilot closure of 13 HM Revenue and Customs enquiry centres in the North East of England and parts of Yorkshire between 14 March and 31 May 2013; and what proportion of this funding was spent on (a) publicity cards for distribution to members of the public, (b) signage, (c) media advertising and (d) other forms of advertising.

David Gauke: The following amounts were spent on advertising the pilot in the north-east and Yorkshire regions:
	
		
			 Description Cost (£, exc. VAT) 
			 (a) Publicity cards for distribution to members of the public 833.18 
			 (b) Signage (1)— 
			 (c) Media advertising 32,456.57 
			 (d) Other forms of advertising (2)— 
			 (1) No cost—internal production (2) No cost

Revenue and Customs: Telephone Services

Ian Lavery: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many call attempts were made to HM Revenue and Customs contact centres on each working day between 3 June and 15 June 2013; how many such calls were answered by HM Revenue and Customs contact centres; and how many answered calls led to a request for a needs enhanced support face-to-face meeting.

David Gauke: HM Revenue and Customs contact centres received and answered the calls in the following table during the period requested.
	
		
			 Day Call attempts made Call attempts handled 
			 3 June 2013 432,829 230,483 
			 4 June 2013 303,293 239,433 
			 5 June 2013 275,449 244,557 
			 6 June 2013 258,957 222,146 
			 7 June 2013 261,677 170,346 
			 8 June 2013 52,759 43,607 
			 9 June 2013 (1)— (1)— 
			 10 June 2013 487,726 272,389 
			 11 June 2013 363,057 254,071 
			 12 June 2013 351,012 229,126 
			 13 June 2013 344,947 229,479 
			 14 June 2013 340,268 212,086 
			 15 June 2013 68,850 45,327 
			 Totals 3,540,824 2,393,050 
			 (1) Closed 
		
	
	Between 3 and 7 June, regional industrial action taken by Public and Commercial Services Union members in HMRC, DWP and VOA led to reduced staffing in many contact centres, with increased demand therefore impacting later weeks.
	84 telephone requests resulted in 14 needs enhanced support face-to-face meetings in the north east pilot area. The remaining needs enhanced support calls were resolved over the phone. HMRC continues to work on developing its pilot to ensure all customers who need additional help receive it.

Roads: Safety

Alok Sharma: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse in 2015-16 of restoring spending on road safety and traffic cameras to the level it would have been without the decisions made in the 2010 Spending Review and 2013 Spending Round.

Danny Alexander: The Treasury has not made an estimate of this cost.

Tonnage Tax

Karl Turner: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) company groups and (b) shipping companies were elected into the Tonnage Tax scheme (i) in each year since 2000-01 and (ii) 2013-14 to date.

David Gauke: Estimates of the number of company groups and shipping companies electing into the Tonnage Tax scheme each year since 2000-01 based on corporation tax records could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	However, groups claiming tonnage tax have to apply (annually) to the Department for Transport for approval of a training commitment linked to the scheme. Where the application is on a group basis, the group is required to list the tonnage tax companies within the group.
	A summary of these annual applications provides a marker for the number of groups and their constituent companies involved in the tonnage tax scheme.
	
		
			 Training commitment year Number of company groups Number of entities (companies/partnerships) 
			 2000-01 15 (1)— 
			 2001-02 42 78 
			 2002-03 59 230 
			 2003-04 59 248 
			 2004-05 71 275 
			 2005-06 77 294 
			 2006-07 79 288 
			 2007-08 86 285 
			 2008-09 90 321 
			 2009-10 88 324 
			 2010-11 87 317 
			 2011-12 86 311 
			 2012-13 81 300 
			 (1) Figure not available

SCOTLAND

Youth Work

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much funding his Department allocated for youth work in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

David Mundell: In 2011-12, the Scotland Office hosted a National Convention on Youth Employment, at a cost of £3,745, aimed at enhancing collaborative working between the UK Government and the Scottish Government across the employment sector to support young people into work.

HEALTH

Cataracts

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time is for cataract surgery on a second eye; and what information his Department holds for international benchmarking purposes on the average such waiting time in other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.

Daniel Poulter: The Department does not hold this information in the format requested, and the main international sources for health data do not contain comparisons for waiting times for cataract treatment.

Cataracts

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects on the use of new eye lens technologies in the treatment of cataract patients using NHS services of the implementation of the proposals in the Health and Social Care Bill.

Daniel Poulter: The implementation of the Health and Social Care Act is intended to create a strong framework for improving the quality of services, ensuring that national health service patients have access to evidence-based care through clinically led commissioning arrangements.

Clinical Trials

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the future viability of randomised controlled trials in the era of personalised medicine.

Daniel Poulter: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is actively involved in discussions on the design of randomised clinical trials in the scope of personalised medicine. These discussions involve regulators, academics and industry in Europe and the United States of America, as well as the Stratified Medicine Innovation Platform headed by the Technology Strategy Board. Personalised medicine offers the prospect for smaller, targeted clinical trials in which the likelihood of response is improved by selection of patients based on their inherited characteristics. Several such studies have already been conducted to support new medicinal product development. These studies will continue to be randomised and controlled in their design, albeit in a more stratified population and are expected to play an important role in the realisation of personalised medicine.

Cystic Fibrosis

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received on the use of interventional lung assist devices in transplants for cystic fibrosis patients.

Anna Soubry: The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has received no representations on the use of interventional lung assist devices in transplants for cystic fibrosis patients.

Deficiency Diseases: Children

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cases of childhood (a) rickets and (b) scurvy have been recorded in each of the last 10 years.

Daniel Poulter: The Hospital Episode Statistics, Health and Social Care Information Centre has provided a count of finished admission episodes with a primary or secondary diagnosis of rickets and scurvy for 0-17 year olds, for 2002-03 to 2011-12. It should be noted that these data should not be described as a count of people as the same person may have been admitted on more than one occasion. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage.
	
		
			 Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector 
			  Rickets Scurvy 
			 2002-03 190 5 
			 2003-04 227 2 
			 2004-03 200 6 
			 2005-06 280 9 
			 2006-07 373 7 
			 2007-08 382 5 
			 2008-09 518 5 
			 2009-10 559 2 
			 2010-11 529 2 
			 2011-12 748 6

Doctors: West Midlands

Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doctors were employed in Worcestershire and the West Midlands in (a) 2013 and (b) 2010.

Daniel Poulter: The information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			 All Doctors in Worcestershire and the West Midlands: Full-time equivalents 2010 and 2013 
			 Full-time equivalents 
			   2010(1) March 2013(2) 
			 West Midlands Strategic Health Authority total    
			  All Doctors 13,252 n/a 
			  Of which:   
			  Hospital and Community Health Service (HCHS) Doctors 9,498 10,068 
			  General Practitioners (GPs) 3,754 n/a 
			 All specified Worcestershire Trusts    
			  All Doctors 1,107 n/a 
			  Of which:   
			  HCHS Doctors 703 712 
			  GPs 405 n/a 
			  Of which:   
			  Worcestershire Primary Care Trust:   
			  All Doctors 465 n/a 
			  Of which:   
			  HCHS Doctors 60 3 
			  GPs 405 n/a 
			  Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust:   
			  All Doctors n/a 130 
			  Of which:   
			  HCHS Doctors n/a 130 
			  GPs n/a n/a 
		
	
	
		
			  All Doctors 73 n/a 
			  Of which:   
			  HCHS Doctors 73 n/a 
			  GPs n/a n/a 
			  Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust:   
			  All Doctors 569 579 
			  Of which:   
			  HCHS Doctors 569 579 
			  GPs n/a n/a 
			 n/a = not applicable. (1 )Census Data as at 30 September 2010 to 2012. (2) Provisional monthly data as at 31 March 2013. Note: GP data is not collected as part of the monthly electronic staff record download, figures for GPs are available on the annual census only. Sources: Health and Social Care Information Centre Medical and Dental Workforce Census Health and Social Care Information Centre Provisional Monthly Workforce Statistics Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

Fertility

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will review the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence recommendations for fertility treatment.

Norman Lamb: We have no plans to do so. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence regularly reviews its clinical guidelines to ensure they take account of the available evidence base.

Fertility

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that fertility treatment is consistent across the NHS.

Anna Soubry: The level of provision of health services, including fertility treatment, is a matter for clinical commissioning groups (CCGs), taking account of the needs of all their population. NHS England has issued a factsheet to CCGs about commissioning fertility services. The factsheet sets out how CCGs should approach commissioning fertility services and take account of the revised National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Fertility Guidelines.

NHS Staff: Worcestershire

Robin Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many midwives were employed by the NHS in Worcestershire in (a) 2013 and (b) 2010;
	(2)  how many nurses were employed in Worcestershire and the West Midlands in (a) 2013 and (b) 2010;
	(3)  how many health visitors there were in Worcestershire in (a) 2013 and (b) 2010.

Daniel Poulter: The information requested is provided in the following table:
	
		
			 Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff and GP practice nurses for specified organisations in the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority area, 30 September 2010(1) and March 2013(2) 
			 Full-time equivalent 
			  2010 March 2013 
			 West Midlands Strategic Health Authority 34,813 n/a 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 33,184 33,670 
			 Registered midwives 2,210 2,418 
			 Health visitors 878 971 
			 Other qualified nurses(3) 30,097 30,281 
			 GP practice nurses 1,629 n/a 
			    
			 Of which:   
			 All specified Worcestershire organisations 2,924 n/a 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 2,749 2,837 
			 Registered midwives 215 210 
			 Health visitors 102 106 
			 Other qualified nurses(3) 2,432 2,521 
			 GP practice nurses 175 n/a 
			    
			 Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust 1,610 n/a 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 1,610 1,678 
			 Registered midwives 215 210 
			 Health visitors 0 1 
			 Other qualified nurses(3) 1,395 1,466 
			 GP Practice nurses 0 0 
			    
			 Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust n/a n/a 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff n/a 1,139 
			 Registered midwives n/a 0 
			 Health visitors n/a 105 
			 Other qualified nurses(3) n/a 1,034 
			 GP practice nurses 0 0 
			    
			 Worcestershire Primary Care Trust 940 n/a 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 765 20 
			 Registered midwives 0 0 
			 Health visitors 102 0 
			 Other qualified nurses(3) 663 20 
			 GP practice nurses 175 n/a 
			    
			 Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust 373 n/a 
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff 373 n/a 
			 Registered midwives 0 n/a 
			 Health visitors 0 n/a 
			 Other qualified nurses(3) 373 n/a 
		
	
	
		
			 GP practice nurses 0 0 
			 n/a = not applicable (1) 2010-12 data from the annual workforce census as at 30 September (2) March 2013 data from provisional NHS HCHS monthly workforce statistics. This does not include GP practice nurse data which is only collected as part of the annual workforce census. (3) Other contains qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff excluding midwives and health visitors. Note: Full-time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number. Sources: Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census Health and Social Care Information Centre, Provisional NHS HCHS monthly workforce statistics Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services Statistics

NHS: Complaints

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints have been made to NHS bodies since May 2010; and how many such complaints have yet to receive a response.

Daniel Poulter: The Health and Social Care Information Centre collects annual data on the number of NHS written complaints. These datasets cover Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) and General Practice (including Dental) Health Services. Data for 2012-13 will be published in the autumn.
	The figures for 2010-11 and 2011-12 are given in the following table.
	
		
			 All NHS written complaints, 2010-11 and 2011-12, England 
			  2010-11 2011-12 
			 All NHS written complaints 149,765 162,129 
			    
			 Total HCHS Complaints 99,057 107,259 
			 Total organisations approached for data 381 453 
			 Of which:   
			 Foundation Trusts not returning data(1) 23 — 
			    
			 Total general practice (including dental) health services complaints 50,708 54,870 
			 ‘—’ denotes zero (1 )Prior to 2011-12 Foundation Trust participation was voluntary. Notes: 1. Data as at 1 April-31 March each year. 2. Central data are not collected on the number of complaints yet to receive a response. Source. Health and Social Care Information Centre, Workforce and Community datasets K041a and K041b. All rights reserved.

NHS: Pay

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the annual pay settlement in the NHS has been since 2010;
	(2)  what the annual pay settlement for doctors and consultants paid from the public purse has been since 2010.

Daniel Poulter: The information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Hospital medical staff(1) Settlement NHS Staff (non-medical) 
			 2010-11 0% consultants 1% Foundation Years 1 and 2 (Doctors in training) 1% other grades 2.25%—Year 3 of Multi Year Deal 
			 2011-12 Public Sector Pay Freeze for those earning £21,000 or more = 0% Public Sector Pay Freeze for those earning £21,000 or more = an uplift of £250 to Agenda for Change spine points 1-15 
			 2012-13 Public Sector Pay Freeze for those earning £21,000 or more = 0% Public Sector Pay Freeze for those earning £21,000 or more = an uplift of £250 to Agenda for Change spine points 1-15 
			 2013-14 1% 1% 
			 (1) Includes consultants, hospital specialists and junior doctors.

Obesity

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the indicators set out in the Quality and Outcomes Framework in providing incentives to GPs to tackle obesity; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 July 2013, Official Report, column 707W.

Obesity

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what comparative assessment he has made of levels of obesity in the UK and other comparable countries; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The Department has not itself undertaken a comparative assessment of obesity rates in the United Kingdom and other countries.
	The Public Health England Obesity Knowledge and Intelligence team (formerly National Obesity Observatory) produced a paper in June 2012 which sets out international comparisons of obesity prevalence. These papers, and supporting web pages, include information on the prevalence of adult and child obesity in the UK and a number of other countries around the world, where data are available. This paper and further information is available at:
	www.noo.org.uk/NOO_about_obesity/adult_obesity/international
	and;
	www.noo.org.uk/NOO_about_obesity/child_obesity/international

Obesity

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the relationship between activity levels and obesity in the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) funds a wide range of research relating to obesity.
	The NIHR Leicester-Loughborough Diet, Lifestyle and Physical Activity Biomedical Research Unit has been awarded £4.5 million over five years for two research themes. The title of the first of these themes is 'Exploiting the potential of the physical activity and sedentary behaviour paradigms in the prevention and management of chronic disease'.
	In 2009, the Department set. up an expert group to review existing evidence on the impact of sedentary behaviour on overweight and obesity/ and the impact on health and activity levels. The group drew up recommendations on limiting sedentary behaviour for all ages. These are reflected in “Start Active, Stay Active”, a report on physical activity for health from the four home countries' chief medical officers published in July 2011. The expert group submitted its report on 26 March 2010 and this is available on the Department's website at:
	www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/135121/dh_128225.pdf.pdf

Obesity

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made an estimate of the likely cost to the economy of illness, economic inactivity and premature death associated with obesity since June 2012; what discussions (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had on that matter since June 2012; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The Department has not undertaken a recent assessment of the estimated cost of obesity to the economy. However, the Foresight team which is part of the Government Office for Science, published ‘Tackling Obesities: Future Choices’ in 2007. The Foresight team estimated the costs of overweight and obesity to society and the economy at almost £16 billion in 2007, based on obesity prevalence at the time.
	Ministers are concerned about the impact of overweight and obesity on the economy and meet weekly with officials, Public Health England and others to discuss this issue.

Obesity

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what guidance on reducing obesity his Department (a) has issued since May 2010 and (b) plans to issue in the next six months; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what material his Department has produced which is intended to prevent adult obesity since May 2010; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what steps he has taken to tackle childhood obesity since May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: In October 2011 the Government published ‘Healthy Lives; Healthy People: A call to action on obesity in England’, which sets out how obesity among children and adults will be tackled in the new public health and national health service systems, and the role of key partners.
	The document sets out details of two new national ambitions for achieving a downward trend in the level of excess weight in children and adults by 2020, and set out proposed Government action. In relation to tackling childhood obesity a number of programmes are in place, including the Change4Life campaign, the National Child Measurement Programme, the school games, the Public Health Responsibility Deal, and the Change4Life Sports Clubs.
	As part of the Change4Ufe campaign the Department has produced a range of materials to encourage individuals and families to make healthier choices.
	There is guidance to help with the local delivery of the National Child Measurement Programme. This is updated annually, and a refreshed version for the 2013-14 school year will be published by Public Health England (PHE) in the coming weeks.
	Advice and guidance in the form of fact sheets has also been produced for businesses wishing to sign up to Public Health Responsibility Deal pledges designed to help people improve their diet and address obesity, including out of home calorie labelling, front of pack nutrition labelling and calorie reduction. A copy of these fact sheets have been placed in the Library.
	In addition the Department and PHE produced best practice guidance for the NHS Health Check Programme. The guidance is currently in draft form. The document is available at:
	www.healthcheck.nhs.uk/news/nhs_health_check_programme_best_practice_guidance/
	In March this year the Department published ‘Developing a specification for lifestyle weight management services: Best practice guidance for tier 2 services’. This guidance was developed to improve the commissioning of weight management services. This document has been placed in the Library.
	A copy of the ‘Call to action’ has already been placed in the Library.

Obesity

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with Public Health England (PHE) about reducing obesity; what PHE's response was; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: I refer my hon. Friend to the written answer I gave on 1 July 2013, Official Report, column 475W, to the right hon. Member for Rother Valley (Mr Barron) and the hon. Member for Corby (Andy Sawford).

Obesity

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence of (a) childhood and (b) adult obesity was in each (i) local authority area, (ii) health authority area and (iii) constituency in each of the last 30 years; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The information requested is not available in the format or years requested.
	Information on the prevalence of obese children is provided through the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP). However, this is only available for children in Reception year (four to five years) and year 6 (10 to 11) for the school years 2006-07 to 2011-12. This information is available in the following tables.
	Tables 3A and 3B in the excel file accompanying ‘National Child Measurement Programme: England, 2011-12 school year’. This information is available at:
	www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB09283
	Table 3A and 3B in the excel file accompanying ‘National Child Measurement Programme: England, 2010-11 school year’. This information is available at:
	www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB03034
	Table 3 in the excel file accompanying ‘National Child Measurement Programme; England, 2009-10 school year’. The table has been placed in the Library and is available at:
	www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB00776
	Table 3 in the excel file accompanying ‘National Child Measurement Programme: England, 2008-09 school year’. This information is available at:
	www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB00760
	Table 4-6 in the excel file accompanying ‘National Child Measurement Programme: England, 2007-08 school year’. This information is available at:
	www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB02314
	Table 4 in the excel file accompanying ‘National Child Measurement Programme: England, 2006-07 school year’. This information is available at:
	www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB02302
	Further information showing the prevalence of children (aged two to 15) who are obese is also collected through the Health Survey for England This information is provided at Table 4 of the Child trend tables from ‘Health Survey for England—2011 trend tables’. This information is available at:
	www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB09302
	Information on the prevalence of obese adults (aged 16 and over) in England for each year from 1993 to 2011 is available in Table 4 of the Adult trend tables from ‘Health Survey for England—2011 trend tables’. This information is available at:
	www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB09302
	Information on the prevalence of obese adults is collected by strategic health authority (SHA) for years 2006-08, and 2010-11. Data was not collected by SHA in 2009. The information available is provided in table 10.4 of the ‘Health Survey for England—2011: Health, social care and lifestyles’ report. The table has been placed in the Library and is available at:
	www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB09300
	Table 10.3 on page 15 of chapter 10—Adult anthropometric measures, overweight and obesity of the ‘Health Survey for England—2010: Respiratory health’ report. This information is available at:
	www.hscic.gov.uk/pubs/hse10report
	Table 7.3 on page 194 of the ‘Health Survey for England—2008: Physical activity and fitness’ report. The table has been placed in the Library and is available at:
	www.hscic.gov.uk/pubs/hse08physicalactivity
	Table 3.3 on page 53 of the ‘Health Survey for England—2007: Healthy lifestyles: knowledge, attitudes and behaviour’ report.. This information is available at:
	www.hscic.gov.uk/pubs/hse07healthylifestyles
	Table 5.3 on page 99 of the ‘Health Survey for England—2006: CVD and risk factors for adults, obesity and risk factors for children: Volume 1, Cardiovascular disease and risk factors in adults' report’. The table, has been placed in the Library and is available at:
	www.hscic.gov.uk/pubs/hse06cvdandriskfactors
	Information on the percentage of obese adults (aged 65 and over) by SHA in 2005 is available in Table 4.3 on page 80 of the ‘Health Survey for England—2005: Health of Older People' report’. The table has been placed in the Library and is available at:
	www.hscic.gov.uk/article/2021/Website-Search?productid =1408&q==health+survey+for+england&topics=13208& infotype=13370&sort=Relevance&size=10&page=l&area= both#top
	The following publications have already been placed in the Library:
	Health Survey for England—2011 trend tables
	Health Survey for England—2010: Respiratory health
	Health Survey for England—2007: Healthy lifestyles: knowledge, attitudes and behaviour
	National Child Measurement Programme: England, 2011-12 school year
	National Child Measurement Programme: England, 2010-11 school year
	National Child Measurement Programme: England, 2008-09 school year
	National Child Measurement Programme: results from the 2007-08 school year, headline results
	National Child Measurement Programme: results from the 2006-07 school year, headline results

Obesity: Children

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on measures to tackle childhood obesity in (a) 2010, (b) 2011, (c) 2012 and (d) 2013 to date; and how that money was allocated in each such year;

Anna Soubry: Prior to April 2013 it was for primary care trusts to decide how to use their allocations to improve the health of their population, including tackling child obesity.
	Local authorities are now responsible for improving public health at local level, including addressing obesity. They have been given a ring-fenced public health budget of £5.4 billion over two years.
	In addition, the Department has invested in a number of nationally-coordinated programmes which contribute to tackling childhood obesity—the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP), Change4Life, the School Games, and Change4Life School Sports Clubs.
	Responsibility for the Change4Life campaign and NCMP transferred to Public Health England from April 2013.
	Information is available on how much has been spent in each financial year, between 2010-11 to 2012-13 on these programmes. For 2013-14 we have provided the amount allocated. This information is provided in the following table:
	
		
			 £ 
			  2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 (allocated) 
			 NCMP(1) 220,000 190,000 400,000 1.5 million 
			 Change4Life(2) 10 million 10.3 million 14 million 14.5 million 
			 The School Games — 7 million 7 million 2.5 million 
		
	
	
		
			 Change4Life School Sports Clubs 475,000 4.8 million 1.6 million 1 million 
			 Primary School Sports funding — — — 60 million 
			 (1) Funding for 2012-13 and 2013-14 includes capital for a new data collection system for NCMP. (2) The Change4Life campaign addresses individuals and families, it is not possible to break down the expenditure on children.

Obesity: Children

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the number of children in each age group who were classified as (a) overweight and (b) obese (i) in Southend, (ii) in each borough in (A) Essex, (B) Kent and (C) Greater London and (iii) nationally in each year since 2012.

Anna Soubry: Information about children who are overweight and obese is not available for the years requested. The latest available information is provided through the National Child Measurement Programme and the Health Survey for England. Neither source can be used to provide information in the format requested.
	Information on the prevalence of overweight and obese children in England and by region and local authority is available through the National Child Measurement Programme in tables 3A and 3B in the excel file accompanying ‘National Child Measurement Programme: England, 2011/12 school year’. However, this information is only available for children in Reception year (four to five years) and year 6 (10 to 11 years). This information is available at:
	www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB09283
	Information showing the prevalence of children (aged two to 15) who are overweight and obese is available in Table 4 of the Child trend tables from ‘Health Survey for England—2011 trend tables’. This information is available at:
	www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB09302
	The information contained in the tables referenced has already been placed in the Library.

Ophthalmic Services

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funding he has made available to the NHS for eye lens treatments in 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: This information is not held in the format requested.
	For the year 2012-13, treatment services for ophthalmic conditions were funded from local national health service commissioners' general recurrent revenue allocations, in common with most other elements of health care. General allocations were not centrally attributed to specific services. Individual commissioners were responsible for deciding the distribution of resources, after taking account of local and national priorities.

Prescription Drugs

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of how methods of dispensing medically-issued drugs vary between England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Norman Lamb: No such assessment has been undertaken.

Primary Care Trusts

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money that was transferred to primary care trusts and subsequently classed as underspend in Budget 2013 has yet to be paid back to his Department; and how much money transferred to primary care trusts remains unaccounted for in total.

Daniel Poulter: Budget 2013 included an underspend of £2.2 billion for the Department against the total departmental expenditure limit (DEL) control. This comprised an underspend of £1.4 billion against the Revenue DEL control and £0.8 billion against the Capital DEL control.
	The strategic health authority (SHA)/primary care trust (PCT) sector underspend, at the time reported in the national health service quarterly performance update “The Quarter”, was £1.4 billion.. This comprised SHA surpluses of £0.8 billion and PCT surpluses of £0.6 billion.
	Underspends are not lost to the NHS and are made available in the following financial year. “The Mandate” set out NHS England's allocation for 2013-14 and included the carry forward of the estimated 2012-13 underspend of £1.2 billion.

Radiotherapy

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many cancer centres were treating patients with intensity-modulated radiation therapy at the level of 24 per cent on 1 April 2013.

Anna Soubry: The £23 million Radiotherapy Innovation Fund was designed to support radiotherapy centres to prepare to deliver 24% of radical (curative) treatments using intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) from 1 April 2013.
	On 1 April 2013 all centres were delivering some level of IMRT. 15 of 50 centres were delivering at least 24% of radical treatment using IMRT at the start of April, and by the end of the month this figure had risen to 26 centres.
	NHS England is working with providers to ensure that radiotherapy centres can deliver 24% of treatment with IMRT as quickly as possible. It is currently anticipated that that all centres will have to the capacity to deliver this by the end of December 2013.
	In the meantime, the new national commissioning arrangements for radiotherapy services that began on 1 April ensure that patients are now considered for the most appropriate radiotherapy treatment regardless of where they live, guaranteeing access to innovative radiotherapy, such as IMRT, where clinically appropriate, safe and cost effective.

York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients had been waiting (a) over six months and (b) over three months for inpatient admission at York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in each year since March 1997.

Anna Soubry: Information is not available in the format requested. Information on the number of patients waiting over six months and three months for in-patient admission at what is now York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust from March 1997 to March 2010 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Number of patients waiting more than six months and three months from decision to admit for in-patient admission at the end of March 
			 As at March each year Organisation Six months Three months 
			 1997 York Health Services NHS Trust 1,317 3,138 
			 1998 York Health Services NHS Trust 2,744 4,651 
			 1999 York Health Services NHS Trust 1,641 3,368 
			 2000 York Health Services NHS Trust 1,752 3,540 
			 2001 York Health Services NHS Trust 1,884 3,488 
			 2002 York Health Services NHS Trust 1,900 3,697 
			 2003 York Health Services NHS Trust 1,711 3,416 
			 2004 York Health Services NHS Trust 826 2,542 
			 2005 York Health Services NHS Trust 532 2,076 
			 2006 York Health Services NHS Trust 0 1,490 
			 2007 York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (FT) 0 606 
			 2008 York Hospitals NHS FT 0 227 
			 2009 York Hospitals-NHS FT 0 298 
			 2010 York Hospitals NHS FT 0 132 
			 Note: Data on in-patient waiting lists not collected after March 2010. Source: Department of Health KH07 from March 1992 to March 2007 and MMRProv (monthly monitoring return) from March 2008 to March 2010. 
		
	
	Since 2007, waiting times on a referral to treatment (RTT) basis have been published. Information on the number of patients who waited over six months and over three months on an admitted RTT pathway at York Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust between March 2008 and March 2012 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Number of patients who waited more than six months and three months from referral to start of in-patient (admitted) treatment in March 
			 As at March each year Organisation Six months Three months 
			 2008 York Hospitals NHS FT 42 413 
		
	
	
		
			 2009 York Hospitals NHS FT 46 529 
			 2010 York Hospitals NHS FT 44 449 
			 2011 York Teaching Hospitals NHS FT 38 530 
			 2012 York Teaching Hospitals NHS FT 119 736 
			 2012 York Teaching Hospitals NHS FT 89 864 
			 Source: Department of Health monthly RTT return

Youth Work

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department allocated for youth work in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Daniel Poulter: The Department did not allocate any funding specifically for youth work in 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13.

WALES

Business

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for a coordinated effort by the UK and Welsh Governments to improve prospects for small and medium businesses in Wales.

David Jones: I will continue to have regular discussions with the First Minister and UK Cabinet colleagues on how the Welsh and UK Governments can work together to support economic growth in Wales. The new campaign to help motivate and inspire small businesses to succeed under the GREAT Britain brand is an excellent example of a joined up approach to business support across Britain that I fully support and will be promoting to the Welsh Government.
	I am keen that all businesses in Wales have access to the support they need. My Business Advisory Group met on 9 July to discuss the new finance available to businesses across Wales as a result of the announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), in the spending review. Promotion of these new finance opportunities is a matter my Office will be taking forward.

Foreign Investment in UK

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 
	(1)  what inward investment there has been in Wales as a result of the event he held at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to promote Wales as a location for job creation and investment;
	(2)  what foreign investment there has been in Wales as a result of the series of events that he hosted with business investors in Hong Kong.

David Jones: The Wales Office has been actively promoting Wales as a destination for investment at home and abroad. I welcome the news from Ernst and Young's attractiveness survey that in 2012 Wales recorded its highest level of inward investment for five years.

Sky Lanterns

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the proposal of the Farmers' Union of Wales that a total ban on the sale of Chinese lanterns be introduced.

David Jones: I have had no such discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), on these proposals. I will be meeting the Farmers' Union of Wales at the Royal Welsh Show later this month and will discuss their concerns with them.

Wylfa Power Station

Nia Griffith: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what supply chain opportunities have been identified for Welsh and UK companies during the construction of the new nuclear reactor at Wylfa in Anglesey.

David Jones: In purchasing Horizon Nuclear Power, Hitachi has made a strong commitment to the UK supply chain. I am committed to ensuring that Welsh companies are in the best possible position to compete for the significant opportunities offered by this investment and also by the wider nuclear sector.
	The Government has published a Nuclear Supply Chain Action Plan and Nuclear industry Strategy which details particular actions that Government and industry will take to ensure the continued and growing success of the UK Civil Nuclear Industry.

CABINET OFFICE

Big Society Network

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2013, Official Report, column 332W, on Big Society Network, if he will place a copy in the Library of all monitoring reports for the Get In campaign completed prior to and immediately before the decision to end the project.

Nick Hurd: Further to my answer of 27 June 2013, Official Report, column 332W, Society Network Foundation submitted one monitoring return for their 'Get In' project in October 2012. In response to an FOI request a redacted copy of this was previously released. It has been placed in the House of Commons Library. No further monitoring reports were submitted.

Employment: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what estimate the UK Statistics Authority has made of the number of (a) men and (b) women who were employed (i) full-time and (ii) part-time in York Central constituency for the 12-month Annual Population Survey periods ending in September in each year since the inception of the survey.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Glen Watson, dated July 2013
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question asking the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate the UK Statistics Authority has made of the number of (a) men and (b) women who were employed (i) full-time and (ii) part-time in York Central constituency for the 12-month Annual Population Survey periods ending in September in each year since the inception of the survey. (163889)
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) compiles employment statistics for local areas from the Annual Population Survey (APS) following International Labour Organisation (ILO) definitions.
	The table provided shows the number of males and females in full-time and part-time employment for York Central constituency. These estimates are compiled from APS interviews held during the period October 2011 to September 2012 and the 12 month periods ending in September in each year since 2005.
	As with any sample survey, estimates from the APS are subject to a margin of uncertainty. A guide to the quality of the estimates is given in the table.
	National and local area estimates for many labour market statistics, including employment, unemployment and claimant count are available on the NOMIS website at:
	http://www.nomisweb.co.uk.
	
		
			 Table 1: The number of males and females in full-time and part-time employment in York Central constituency 
			 Thousands 
			  Number of people in full-time employment aged 16 years and over Number of people in part-time employment aged 16 years and over 
			 12 months ending: Males Females Males Females 
			 September 2005 24 13 ****— 11 
			 September 2006 22 12 ****— 12 
			 September 2007 23 12 ****— 11 
			 September 2008 24 12 ****— 11 
			 September 2009 25 15 ****— 10 
			 September 2010 24 17 ****— 10 
			 September 2011 24 14 ****— 13 
			 September 2012(1) **23 ***12 ****— ***15 
		
	
	
		
			 (1) Coefficients of Variation have been calculated for the latest period as an indication of the quality of the estimates, as described below: Guide to Quality: The Coefficient of Variation (CV) indicates the quality of an estimate, the smaller the CV value the higher the quality. The true value is likely to lie within +/- twice the CV—for example, for an estimate of 200 with a CV of 5% we would expect the population total to be within the range 180-220. Key: * 0 = CV <5%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered precise ** 5 = CV <10%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered reasonably precise *** 10 = CV <20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered acceptable **** CV ? 20%—Statistical Robustness: Estimates are considered too unreliable for practical purposes CV = Coefficient of Variation Source: Annual Population Survey

Youth Work

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much funding his Department allocated for youth work in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Hurd: As was the case under previous Administrations, most spending on youth services happens at a local level. Details of this are published at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/strategy/financeandfunding/section251
	The Prime Minister announced on 3 July 2013 that Cabinet Office is assuming cross-Government responsibility for youth strategy and policy. This will include the ongoing management of some grants already allocated by the Department for Education.
	Cabinet Office already provides funds and support to civil society organisations, including those that work with young people. Beside our flagship programme National Citizen Service and we also, for example, supported the launch of the independent Campaign for Youth Social Action on 27 June 2013 and announced a Youth Social Action Fund which has been created to offer financial support to social action programmes —£5 million will be provided over two years (£4 million from the Cabinet Office's Centre for Social Action alongside £1 million from the Education Endowment Foundation).

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Electric Cables

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many miles of electricity transmission cabling were constructed by National Grid (a) overground and (b) underground in each of the last five years.

Michael Fallon: The vast majority of National Grid activity in the last five years has been to replace, maintain and refurbish existing assets. National Grid has advised me of the following projects:
	(a) Overground projects:
	14 miles of 400 Kilovolt (kV) overhead line between Norton and Spennymore was completed in 2011 to replace an existing 275 kV overhead line.
	(b) Underground projects:
	6.25 miles of new 400 kV underground cable was constructed in Croydon in 2010.
	1.7 miles of underground cable was upgraded to400 kV in Ross on Wye in 2013.
	The London Power Tunnels project is upgrading 20 miles of underground cable to 400 kV and started construction in 2010.

Electricity

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the de-rated capacity margins for electricity in each year since 1989 for which figures are available;
	(2)  what forecast his Department has made of the likely de-rated capacity margins for electricity in (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15, (c) 2016-17, (d) 2017-18 and (e) 2018-19.

Michael Fallon: The information is as follows:
	Historic margins
	The following table shows the Great Britain capacity margin for 1999-2000 to 2011-12. Figures for 2012-13 will be available on 25 July 2013. For consistency with estimated future margins, this has been answered for Great Britain. However, unlike the figures in the estimated future margins, only renewables are de-rated in these figures (by factors set out in the 1989 Electricity Act for the calculation of declared net capacity for intermittent renewables), so margins are not comparable with the estimated future margins—the historical margins are likely to be higher.
	
		
			  Capacity margin (GB de-rated major power producers capacity(1)/GB maximum demand) (percentage) 
			 1999-2000 21.0 
			 2000-01 23.5 
			 2001-02 25.2 
			 2002-03 14.0 
			 2003-04 18.1 
			 2004-05 20.3 
			 2005-06 19.6 
			 2006-07 26.9 
			 2007-08 23.5 
			 2008-09 27.5 
			 2009-10 28.8 
			 2010-11 36.8 
			 2011-12 42.9 
			 (1) Only wind, small hydro and solar PV capacity are de-rated in these figures, therefore they are not directly comparable with the estimate of future margins below. Source: Digest of UK Energy Statistics, tables 5.8 (GB capacity) and 5.10 (GB Maximum Demand), available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electricity-chapter-5-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes 
		
	
	Estimated future margins
	The Energy Act 2011 placed an obligation on Ofgem to provide the Secretary of State with a report assessing capacity margins into the future. On 27 June 2013 Ofgem published their 2013 Capacity Assessment covering the period from winter 2013-14 to winter 2018-19.
	Their assessment was that de-rated margins over the period would be as follows:
	
		
			  De-rated(1)capacity margin (percentage) 
			 2013-14 6.25 
			 2014-15 4.75 
			 2015-16 3.81 
			 2016-17 6.34 
			 2017-18 8.91 
			 2018-19 7.76 
			 (1) All technologies have been de-rated to take into account their expected availability at times of system peak, therefore they are not directly comparable with the historical margins above. 
		
	
	More details on the Ofgem Capacity Assessment, including on the outlook for capacity margins in different scenarios, can be found in their report:
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Pages/MoreInformation.aspx?docid=5&refer=Markets/WhlMkts/monitoring-energy-security/elec-capacity-assessment
	As required by the Energy Act 2011, DECC will publish a response to the Ofgem Capacity Assessment later this year.

Energy Supply

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  how many non-renewable energy projects that have started generation since 2010 had (a) planning determined and (b) construction begun (i) before May 2010 and (ii) after May 2010;
	(2)  what the installed capacity was of non-renewable energy projects that have started generation since 2010 which had (a) planning determined and (b) construction begun (i) before May 2010 and (ii) after May 2010.

Michael Fallon: The number of non-renewable energy projects that have started generation since 2010 are listed in the following table, together with the dates of determination of planning, construction, and installed capacity of each plant.
	
		
			 Power station Operator Generation started Planning determined Construction date Installed capacity (MW) 
			 Langage Centrica March 2010 November 2000 Constructed June 2006 to March 2010 905 
		
	
	
		
			 Grain E.on UK June 2010 October 2006 Constructed May 2007 to May 2010 1,320 
			 Staythorpe RWE npower November 2010 May 1993 Construction began in 1998; then halted and recommenced 2007 to November 2010 1,724 
			 Severn Power Dong Energy November 2010 August 2007 Constructed 2007 to 2010 848 
			 Pembroke RWE npower September 2012 February 2009 Constructed 2008 to mid 2012 2,180 
			 West Burton EDF Energy Expected by end 2013 October 2007 Construction started January 2008 1,300

Fracking

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change on which date he and his Ministers and officials received the report from the British Geological Survey on the extent of shale gas reserves in the UK.

Michael Fallon: holding answer 9 July 2013
	The final report was received in the Department on 24 June.

Hinkley Point C Power Station

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to the Report by HM Treasury, Investing in Britain's Future, Cm 8669, published in June 2013, what criteria will be used to decide whether the proposed new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point C is eligible for a UK guarantee.

Danny Alexander: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Treasury.
	To be considered eligible for a guarantee a project must meet five key criteria:
	nationally significant as defined in the National Infrastructure Plan (although the Government will also consider other projects of national or economic significance on a case-by-case basis);
	ready to start construction within 12 months from a guarantee being given and having obtained (or about to) necessary planning permission and other required consent;
	financially credible;
	dependent on a guarantee to proceed; and
	good value to the taxpayer.
	Once a project has been deemed eligible it will go through a robust assessment and due diligence process before being submitted to Ministers for final approval of a guarantee.

Renewable Energy

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his Department's policy is on burning wood to create electricity.

Michael Fallon: The Government's policy is that use of sustainable biomass, including wood, as a transitional fuel to reduce carbon emissions can make an important contribution to decarbonisation. In addition, combined heat and power generation (CHP) offers a more efficient use of biomass resource than electricity only and should be promoted where possible. This reflects the conclusions of the Government's Bioenergy Strategy, published in April 2012.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Welfare Reforms

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what discussions she has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the Government’s proposed welfare reforms.

Michael Penning: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs Villiers), met Nelson McCausland the Minister for Social Development on 27 June.
	We have agreed some flexibilities in respect of Northern Ireland’s special circumstances but it is now essential that the Assembly implements the reforms by January so as to avoid Treasury passing on additional costs to the Executive.

Unemployment

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what her policy is on tackling unemployment in Northern Ireland.

Michael Penning: The Government’s efforts to reduce the largest structural deficit in UK peacetime history and deliver sustainable economic recovery remain the best way to help people find employment. We are keen to work closely with the Northern Ireland Executive to rebalance the economy, attract investment and help people into work.

Parades

Jim McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what her policy is on parading; and if she will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Bolton West (Julie Hilling).

Party Funding

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of donations and funding to political parties and political campaigns in Northern Ireland comes from (a) the UK and (b) the Republic of Ireland.

Michael Penning: The Electoral Commission is under a strict statutory obligation not to disclose information relating to donations or loans to Northern Ireland parties.
	Following the passage of the Miscellaneous Provisions Bill, we intend to introduce secondary legislation which would allow this information to be disclosed.

Official Hospitality

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much her Department has spent on hospitality at (a) Hillsborough Castle, (b) Stormont and (c) other venues in each year since 2010.

Theresa Villiers: The amount spent on hospitality in each year since 2010 was as follows:
	
		
			 (a) Hillsborough Castle 
			  £ 
			 2010-11 19,542 
			 2011-12 15,254 
			 2012-13 22,250 
		
	
	
		
			 (b) Stormont House 
			  £ 
			 2010-11 6,259 
			 2011-12 5,198 
			 2012-13 6,156 
		
	
	
		
			 (c) Other venues 
			  £ 
			 2010-11 0 
			 2011-12 0 
			 2012-13 0

Official Hospitality

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which people have received hospitality from her Department at (a) Hillsborough Castle, (b) Stormont and (c) other venues in each year since 2010.

Theresa Villiers: With the exception of the annual garden party, royal and presidential visits to Hillsborough Castle, hospitality is only provided by my Department to external organisations for the purpose of promoting the strategic policy objectives of the Northern Ireland Office.
	Since 2010, such hospitality was provided at Hillsborough Castle and Stormont House to a range of stakeholders including those from the business, private and voluntary sectors. Since 2010, no such hospitality has been provided at other venues.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Atos Healthcare

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the procurement timetable for the medical services contract is.

Mark Hoban: The current Medical Services Contract between the Department for Work and Pensions and Atos Healthcare is currently due to expire on the 31 of August 2015.

Eyesight: North Yorkshire

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many free NHS sight tests were given to people aged 60 years and over in the North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust area in each year since 2004-05; and what estimate he has made of the cost of providing those tests.

Daniel Poulter: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of the Department of Health.
	The table shows the number of national health service sight tests for persons aged 60 and over, in England from 2004-05 to 2011-12. This information has been extracted from the report, ‘General Ophthalmic Services: Activity Statistics for England, Year ending 31 March 2012’. This report is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
	www.hscic.gov.uk/searchcatalogue?productid= 7880&pubdate=JUL%2c20128tsort=Relevance&size=10&page= 2#top
	The cost has been established by multiplying the number of sight tests conducted by the price paid per sight test.
	
		
			 Number and cost of NHS sight tests for the 60 years and over eligibility group, in North Yorkshire and York PCT, 2004-05 to 2011-12 
			  60+ sight tests(1) Price per sight test (£) Approximate Cost (£) 
			 2004-05 — 17.82 — 
			 2005-06 — 18.39 — 
			 2006-07 — 18.85 — 
			 2007-08 88,428 19.32 1,708,432 
			 2008-09 90,380 19.80 1,789,521 
			 2009-10 89,805 20.26 1,819,454 
			 2010-11 88,324 20.70 1,828,300 
			 2011-12 97,711 20.70 2,022,617 
			 1 Number of sight tests by eligibility group was not available at PCT level for the years 2004-05 to 2006-07. Note: Patients may qualify for an NHS sight test on more than one criterion. However, they would only be recorded against one criterion on the form. Patients are more likely to be recorded according to their clinical need rather than their age. For example, a patient aged over 60, with glaucoma is likely to be recorded in the glaucoma category only. The count by eligibility is therefore approximate. Source: General Ophthalmic Services: Activity Statistics for England publication by the Health and Social Care Information Centre

New Enterprise Allowance

Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many loans have been made through the New Enterprise Allowance scheme in each of the last three years; and what proportion of jobseeker's allowance claimants have received such a loan;
	(2)  how many loans have been made through the New Enterprise Allowance scheme since the scheme was introduced;
	(3)  how many loans have been made through the New Enterprise Allowance scheme in each region of the UK in each of the last three years.

Mark Hoban: The NEA scheme began in April 2011. The Get Britain Work programme last published official figures up to the end of November 2012. The number of new enterprise allowance scheme loans made during the period April 2011 to November 2012 was:
	
		
			  Number of loans 
			 2011 910 
			 2012 4,800 
			 2013 (1)— 
			 (1) MI not yet available 
		
	
	With regards to what proportion of jobseekers allowance claimants have received an NEA loan, this category of information is not collect by the Work programme.
	Official statistics regarding the performance of the NEA, based upon official Get Britain Working measures, are available via the DWP website. Official statistics on the number of mentor and weekly allowance starts are available on:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pre-work-programme-support
	Since the introduction of NEA in 2011, there have been 5,710 loans.
	The number of loans made in each region between April 2011 and November 2012 are as following:
	
		
			  Number of loans 
			 Region 2011 2012 
			 Central England 190 1,170 
			 London and Home Counties 30 990 
			 North East and Yorks 240 1,090 
			 North West 50 310 
			 Scotland 50 250 
			 Southern England 70 550 
			 Wales 20 100 
			 Merseyside 260 340 
			 Note: 2013 – MI not yet available.

Poverty

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of (a) children, (b) pensioners and (c) households fell below 60 per cent of contemporary median equivalised income (i) before and (ii) after housing costs between (A) 2007-08 to 2009-10, (B) 2008-09 to 2010-11, (C) 2009-10 to 2011-12 and (D) 2010-11 and 2012-13.

Steve Webb: It is not possible to determine the change in the number or percentage of households below 60% of contemporary median equivalised income between 2010-11 and 2012-13, as data are not yet available for 2012/13. As such this part of this question cannot be answered.
	Figures for volume and proportion of children and pensioners below 60% of contemporary median equivalised income before and after housing costs between 2007-08 and 2010-11 can be found in the latest HBAI publication, available at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/households-below-average-income-hbai-199495-to-201112
	Relevant figures for children can be found in Table 4.1tr (on page 102) and Table 4.3tr (on page 104) and for pensioners can be found in Table 6.1tr (on page 206) and Table 6.3tr (on page 208).
	The data requested for households can be found in the following table:
	
		
			 Number (millions) and percentage of households below 60% of contemporary median income, before and after housing costs 
			  Number (BHC) Percentage (BHC) Number (AHC) Percentage (AHC) 
			 2007-08 5.1 19 5.8 22 
			 2008-09 5.0 19 5.8 22 
			 2009-10 4.8 18 5.9 22 
			 2010-11 4.7 17 5.7 21 
			 2011-12 4.7 17 5.8 21 
			 Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income (HBAI) data sourced from the Family Resources Survey (FRS) covering 2007/-08 to 2011-12. These use disposable household income, adjusted using modified OECD equivalisation factors for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 2. Net disposable incomes have been used to answer the question. This includes earnings from employment and self-employment, state support, income from occupational and private pensions, investment income and other sources. Income tax payments, national insurance contributions, council tax/domestic rates and some other payments are deducted from incomes. 3. Figures have been presented on a Before Housing Cost and an After Housing Cost basis. For Before Housing Costs, housing costs are not deducted from income, while for After Housing Costs they are. 4. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to a degree of uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 5. The reference period for HBAI figures is the financial year. 6. Numbers of households have been rounded to the nearest hundred thousand households. 7. Proportions of households have been rounded to the nearest percentage point. 8. Figures may not sum due to rounding. 
		
	
	We want to develop better measures of child poverty which include, but go beyond income to provide a more accurate picture of the reality of child poverty and drive the right action. Our consultation on how best to measure child poverty closed on 15 February. The complexity of the issue means that we need to take time to ensure we have the best option for measuring child poverty; so that we can ensure we properly tackle the causes. We will publish our response as soon as we can.

Poverty: Yorkshire and the Humber

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many children in Yorkshire and the Humber were living in (a) absolute and (b) relative poverty in each year since 1995-96.

Esther McVey: Three-year averages are used to report statistics by region and country, as single-year estimates are subject to volatility. Figures for relative and absolute low income for Yorkshire and the Humber since 1995-96 to 1997-98 up to 2009-10 to 2011-12 can be found in the latest HBAI publication, available at the following link:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/households-below-average-income-hbai-199495-to-201112
	Relevant figures for relative low income can be found in Table 4.17ts (on page 136) and for absolute low income can be found in Table 4.23ts (on page 142).
	The current income measures in isolation do not capture the reality of poverty in the UK today. The absolute child poverty threshold is not a direct assessment of a child's needs. These measures are sensitive to where the poverty line is drawn and the measure used to adjust the poverty line. For example, in 2010/-11 the relative measure fell by 300,000 children, this was mostly because the average incomes across the UK fell and not because these children saw any changes in their circumstances.
	We want to develop better measures of child poverty which include, but go beyond income to provide a more accurate picture of the reality of child poverty and drive the right action. Our consultation on how best to measure child poverty closed on 15 February. The complexity of the issue means that we need to take time to ensure we have the best option for measuring child poverty, so that we can ensure we properly tackle the causes. We will publish our response as soon as we can.

Social Security Benefits: Mental Illness

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what assistance the Government makes available to ensure that people with life-long mental health conditions are supported in making claims for benefits;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to ensure that the needs of those with a life-long mental health condition which prevents them working are met during the assessment process for benefits.

Mark Hoban: The DWP recognise that individuals with mental health conditions face certain challenges in the application and assessment process for benefits. Special provisions are therefore in place to support individuals with a mental health condition in making a claim.
	For example, during the application process for both employment and support allowance and personal independence payment, claimants with mental, intellectual and cognitive impairments who do not return their claim form are referred directly to the assessment provider for a face-to-face consultation, rather than ending their claim. Information sent to the claimant before the face-to-face consultation also specifies that they may bring a relative, carer or friend to the assessment.
	All health professionals carrying out disability assessments receive specific training in assessing mental health conditions. In addition Mental Function Champions spread best practice and also provide support in more complex cases to their health professional colleagues.
	As a result to recent changes to the WCA it is now more accurately assessing people with a mental health condition. Shortly after ESA was introduced, 33% of people claiming with mental health condition received the benefit. Latest published figures show that is now 43%.

State Retirement Pensions

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of women that will benefit from the introduction of the single tier state pension in 2016.

Steve Webb: It is estimated that over 700,000 women who reach state pension age in the first 10 years after the single-tier pension is introduced will receive an average of £9 per week more in state pension than they would have done under the current pension system, due to the single-tier valuation of their national insurance record.

Unemployed People

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been spent on refunding the cost of travel by jobseekers to jobcentres since May 2010.

Mark Hoban: From May 2010 to June 2013, the Department spent £6.4 million refunding the cost of travel by jobseekers to jobcentres.

Work Programme

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to permit individuals who volunteer for the Work Programme to leave before the end of the mandatory two year period if they are dissatisfied with the Work Programme; how it is communicated to people who volunteer for the Work Programme that they will be on the programme for two years and not permitted to leave if they are not satisfied, change benefit or move into employment; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  for what reason people on the Work Programme who have moved into employment must remain with the Work Programme provider for two years from the date they joined; what payments are received by the provider in such circumstances; what figures on the number of people in this position he requires Work Programme providers to provide; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: It is not Government policy that individuals who are dissatisfied with their Work programme provider should be able to leave the Work Programme.
	When a claimant volunteers for early access to the Work programme, they will have a Work programme referral interview with their Jobcentre Plus adviser, who will set out all the circumstances around their referral of which they need to be aware.
	In order to incentivise sustained employment outcomes, it is necessary that the claimant spends a sustained period with the Work programme provider. Therefore, once a claimant is attached to the Work programme, they remain with their provider for two years, or until all sustainment outcomes have been achieved, or the claimant is referred to specialist disability support through Work Choice. Where claimants move off benefit and into work, their provider is not able to require them to participate in any activity—however, if this claimant returns to work within their two year allotted period on the programme, then they will continue to be supported by their Work programme provider.
	While a claimant is attached to the Work programme, the conditionality to which they are subject is dependent on the level of conditionality that is applied more generally to claimants on that benefit. This is true of volunteers and those who are referred on a mandatory basis; therefore, some volunteers, such as those in the ESA Support Group, are not required to participate in activity while they are on the programme, while others, such as JSA early access volunteers, are required to participate.
	Details of the Work programme fee structure and the number of payments were published in the Work programme Official Statistics on 27 June 2013, and can be found at:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-programme-statistical-summary-june-2013

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of work programme participants who have obtained job outcomes since June 2011 had been unemployed for more than (a) 12, (b) 24 and (c) 36 months.

Mark Hoban: The information requested is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many referrals he estimates will be made to the Work programme in each claimant group in each of the next six months.

Mark Hoban: The latest forecasts of annual attachment volumes for each payment group that are in the public domain were produced in December 2012 and are accessible at the following link:
	http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2013-0317/WorkprogrammeattachmentprofilesDec12.pdf
	New forecasts are due to be shared with providers and put into the public domain during the summer.
	DWP produce estimates of the number of attachments or each payment group for each year of the programme. DWP does not produce estimates of the number of referrals for each group on a monthly basis.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Work programme participants have been placed on apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: Information on how many Work programme participants have been placed on apprenticeships is not held by the Department.

Work Programme

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for work programme participants who secured job outcomes in each three month period since the work programme started, what average number of sustainable payments have been made subsequently to their work programme provider.

Mark Hoban: The information requested from September 2011 to March 2013 is given in the following table:
	
		
			 Average number of sustainment payments made to Work programme providers in each month, 1 September 2011 to 31 March 2013 
			 Job outcome month Median 
			 1 September 2011 to 30 November 2011 16 
			 1 December 2011 to 29 February 2012 13 
			 1 March 2012 to 31 May 2012 11 
			 1 June 2012 to 31 August 2012 8 
			 1 September 2012 to 30 November 2012 5 
			 1 December 2012 to 28 February 2013 1 
		
	
	
		
			 1 Mar 2013 to 31 March 2013 0 
			 Notes: 1. The latest data available for analysis are at 31 March 2013. Therefore the final period only contains one month’s data. 2. Sustainment payments: Providers can only claim a sustainment payment where: A Job Outcome has been reported. Four continuous weeks in employment have elapsed between the Job Outcome payment date and the sustainment payment date, or between the previous sustainment payment date and the current sustainment payment date. A participant has been in employment and off benefit each week (a week is defined as a seven day period) in the four week period; and 15 working days have passed since the last date of the period being claimed. Following a break in employment after the 104 weeks allotted time providers will no longer be eligible to receive a sustainment payment (a break is defined as when a participant leaves employment for two days or more, even if they remain off benefit). 3. A Job Outcome payment can be claimed when there has been a either continuous or cumulative period of employment of at least 13 weeks. It is not possible for any provider to have received a sustainment payment in the first three months of the programme. These months have therefore not been shown in the table above. Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate (IGS)

Work Programme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to ensure appropriate health and safety provisions are made for all work undertaken as part of the mandatory work activity programme.

Mark Hoban: Under the terms of their contracts with DWP, providers are required to ensure that all participants involved in any way with DWP provision, train and work in a healthy and safe environment with due regard to their welfare. Under Health and Safety Law participants are regarded employees, whether they are paid or not. Providers must, therefore, comply with their Duty of Care under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Act's associated regulations. Providers must ensure that participants receive health and safety induction, training and supervision which are appropriate to the provision being delivered, and that systems are in place for checking this, both within their own organisation and at any sub-contractors.

Work Programme

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people on the Work Programme are working to identify households eligible for the Energy Company Obligation.

Mark Hoban: The Department does not hold information on whether Work programme providers are working to identify households eligible for the Energy Company Obligation.

Youth Work

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much funding his Department allocated for youth work in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Department for Work and Pensions does not fund Youth Work.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Duchy of Cornwall

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to amend the rights of succession to enable a female to accede to the title of Duchess of Cornwall.

Chloe Smith: The Government has no plans to amend the rights of succession outside of the provisions of the Succession to the Crown Act 2013.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Business

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's communications with small businesses; what discussions he has had with small businesses and small businesses' organisations on the effectiveness of his Department's communications with small businesses; and what steps he plans to take to improve the effectiveness of his Department's communications with small businesses.

Michael Fallon: The Department and its Ministers have regular discussions with small businesses and their representative bodies and listens to their feedback on the support Government offers to small businesses. I also chair quarterly meetings of the small business forum.
	In June this year, the Government pledged further backing to small firms. At an event at 10 Downing street to celebrate the contribution small businesses make to the economy, the Prime Minister announced that all the recommendations made in a recent report by his Enterprise Advisor, my noble Friend Lord Young of Graffham, had been accepted. Lord Young's report focused on the barriers small businesses face when they want to grow and how Government can help businesses overcome these barriers.
	The event at Downing Street also marked the launch of:
	www.greatbusiness.gov.uk
	Government recognises that more needs to be done to make it easier for small businesses to find out about relevant and useful support to help them start up and grow, and this new website brings together the schemes that will help them access the right kind of support. BIS will publish a strategy in the autumn that will make it easier to access the right support, and to improve the way the Government communicates with firms.

Conditions of Employment

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of zero hours contracts on (a) staff morale and (b) staff turnover.

Jo Swinson: No assessment of the effects of zero hours contracts on staff morale or staff turnover has been made by this Department.
	Officials are currently speaking to a variety of stakeholders, including trade unions and industry bodies who represent sectors where these contracts are used, to gather more information on the use of zero hours contracts.

Construction: Vetting

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills with reference to Construction 2025 Industrial Strategy: government and industry in partnership, published on 2 July 2013, for what reasons the issue of blacklisting in the construction sector was not included in the strategy; and if he will ensure that this issue is considered in any further discussions between government and industry on the future shape of the construction sector labour market.

Michael Fallon: The position on blacklisting is clear. The practice was outlawed in the Blacklisting Regulations 2010.
	Since the opposition debate on blacklisting on 23 January 2013, Official Report, column 330, no new evidence has been presented to Government to show that blacklisting is ongoing. There have been a lot of accusations, but we have not yet received any firm evidence that blacklisting continues, in the construction industry or elsewhere. We continue to urge anyone who has such information to get in touch with the appropriate authorities.
	Similarly I am not aware of any evidence that the Blacklists Regulations are not effective.
	The Scottish Affairs Select Committee is continuing its own investigation into blacklisting and Government will be looking carefully at its final report as well as any other evidence submitted. Where there is evidence that blacklisting is currently being used in any sector of the economy, the appropriate authorities will be asked to carry out a full and thorough investigation.
	The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), met with the Information Commissioner, Christopher Graham, at the beginning of April 2013 to make sure that he is ready and able to investigate any new evidence and to use the new powers given to the Commissioner in April 2010. These include a penalty of up to £500,000 for serious misuse of personal data.
	We are also aware that there are some ongoing cases currently before the courts, and will be interested to see the outcome of these.

Higher Education: Admissions

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many applications for undergraduate study were made to (a) the University of York, (b) York St John University and (c) all English universities in each year since 2008-09.

David Willetts: The latest information is given in the table. UCAS have not released any data on applications to individual institutions for the 2013 application cycle, but the latest figures for total applicants to all UK institutions (published by UCAS on July 9) show that they have risen by 3.1%, compared to the same point in 2012.
	
		
			 UCAS main scheme applications to university of York, York St John university and England, 2008 to 2012—Full-time undergraduate courses 
			  Year of entry 
			  2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 
			 University of York 18,434 21,543 24,548 23,725 23,570 
			 York St John University 5,541 6,194 7,685 8,657 9,600 
			 All institutions in England 1,852,623 2,021,546 2,303,678 2,418,828 2,209,337 
			 Notes: 1. Each applicant can submit up to five applications. 2. Figures cover applicants who applied during the main UCAS application scheme which closes on June 30. Applicants who subsequently applied during clearing are not included. Source: UCAS

Higher Education: Admissions

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals from (a) London and (b) England excluding London progress to (i) any university and (ii) a Russell Group university.

David Willetts: The estimated proportions of maintained schools pupils with free school meals who progressed to higher education and to Russell Group institutions by age 19 are shown in the table:
	
		
			 Estimated proportions of maintained schools pupils with free school meals at age 15, who progressed to higher education and to Russell Group institutions by age 19 in 2009/10 
			  Percentage in HE(1) Percentage in Russell Group 
			 London 33 4 
			 England excluding London 14 1 
			 England 18 2 
			 (1) UK higher education institutions and English further education colleges Source: Matched data from the DFE National Pupil Database, the HESA Student Record and the SFA ILR 
		
	
	Information on progression of pupils to higher education is available from the BIS Widening Participation statistical release of August 2012:
	https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/widening-participation-in-higher-education-august-2012

Higher Education: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding per (a) undergraduate and (b) postgraduate student the Higher Education Funding Council for England allocated to (i) the University of York and (ii) York St John University in each year since 1995-96.

David Willetts: The following tables show the amount of grant distributed by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) for teaching and research per full-time equivalent student for each of the years requested. There have been changes in HEFCE's funding methodology over this period, so the following tables do not provide like for like yearly comparisons. In particular, the data prior to 1998-99 is not available in a similar format to that for later years.
	
		
			 Teaching funding 
			 £ per academic year 
			  York St John university University of York 
			 Study level UG (including PGT) PGR UG (including PGT) PGR 
			 1996-97 2,043 0 2,561 1,507 
			 1997-98 2,099 0 2,567 1,592 
		
	
	
		
			 £per academic year 
			  York St John university University of York 
			 Study level UG PGT PGR UG PGT PGR 
			 1998-99 2,276 418 1,185 2,942 1,842 6,332 
			 1999-2000 2,355 477 1,898 3,008 1,964 6,593 
			 2000-01 2,540 429 1,258 3,083 2,005 6,452 
			 2001-02 2,707 594 1,715 3,118 1,920 6,686 
			 2002-03 2,752 222 954 3,159 1,720 7,275 
			 2003-04 2,988 440 662 3,110 1,663 7,985 
			 2004-05 3,522 359 1,458 3,344 1,484 8,515 
			 2005-06 3,695 350 n/a 3,438 1,540 6,210 
			 2006-07 3,897 509 n/a 3,668 1,672 6,149 
			 2007-08 4,075 642 n/a 3,895 1,828 5,854 
			 2008-09 4,078 927 n/a 4,088 1,911 5,806 
			 2009-10 3,699 687 4,808 3,864 728 5,268 
			 2010-11 3,608 371 4,366 3,768 718 4,922 
			 2011-12 3,531 608 4,098 3,568 765 4,654 
			 2012-13 (adjusted) 2,086 585 2,113 2,318 774 5,989 
			 2013-14 (initial) 1,205 595 2,020 1,619 863 5,706 
			 Key: UG—Undergraduate PGT—Postgraduate taught PGR—Postgraduate research 
		
	
	In addition, the following average tuition fee loan payments (per student), were made to those universities by the Student Loan Company on behalf of full-time English domiciled and EU domiciled students from 2006/07 to 2011/12. Data is not yet available for 2012/13.
	
		
			 Average tuition fee loans paid 
			 £, per student 
			 Academic year York St John university University of York 
			 2006/07 1,820 2,100 
			 2007/08 2,180 2,630 
			 2008/09 2,710 3,010 
			 2009/10 2,970 3,160 
			 2010/11 3,200 3,210 
			 2011/12 3,330 3,300 
			 2012/13 — — 
			 Notes: (1 )Figures represent the combined average of those paid variable and contribution fee loans. (2) Figures are rounded to the nearest £10.

Higher Education: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much capital funding the Government allocated to (a) York College, (b) the University of York and (c) York St John University in each year since 1995-96.

David Willetts: The amount of Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) capital funding allocated to York college, the university of York and the university of York St John in each year between 1992 and 2000, is not readily available. However, the HEFCE capital allocations for each of the institutions named since 2000/01 is included in the following table. The amount of capital funding allocated to York college in that period by the Skills Funding Agency and its predecessor, the Learning and Skills Council, is also included.
	
		
			  York College University of York York St John university 
			  SFA funding HEFCE funding HEFCE funding HEFCE funding 
			 2000-01 — 38,266 — — 
			 2001-02 28,052 10,910 3,530,750 — 
			 2002-03 — 42,090 3,778,951 1,853,705 
			 2003-04 162,900 47,314 9,960,671 480,369 
			 2004-05 — 15,927 9,598,750 1,695,801 
			 2005-06 21,159,347 103,283 8,901,524 95,667 
			 2006-07 98,257 75,029 3,257,349 900,000 
			 2007-08 — 75,030 16,182,678 939,152 
			 2008-09 — 77,650 13,211,996 1,308,627 
			 2009-10 — 113,645 26,823,315 1,251,150 
			 2010-11 128,950 73,524 1,746,914 939,136 
			 2011-12 100,000 20,617 3,879,252 169,911 
			 2012-13 — 22,678 3,242,950 91,117 
			 2013-14(1) — 13,148 1,272,854 96,941 
			 Grand total 21,677,506 729,111 105,387,954 9,821,576 
			 (1) These figures are not final. 
		
	
	I regret that in response to the hon. Member's previous question on this subject answered 14 July 2011, Official Report, column 501W, some wrong figures were provided as a result of administrative error.

Higher Education: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  how many young people from York Central constituency (a) applied for and (b) started a degree course in each year since 2008-09;
	(2)  how many young people from the City of York started a degree course in each year since 2008-09.

David Willetts: The latest information on applicants provided by UCAS is shown in Table 1. Changes in the number of applicants can be affected by changes in population numbers and for this reason UCAS' preferred method of analysing trends in applications is to look at application rates (i. e. the percentage of the relevant population who applied). The latest UCAS analysis of application rates at national level was published in January and is available from their website at:
	http://www.ucas.com/news-events/news/2013/ucas-reports-35-increase-applications-higher-education
	UCAS have not calculated application rates by parliamentary constituency.
	
		
			 Table 1: Applicants aged under 21 from York Central constituency(1) to full-time undergraduate courses 
			 Year of entry Applicants 
			 2008 430 
			 2009 486 
		
	
	
		
			 2010 502 
			 2011 560 
			 (1) York Central constituency was created in 2010. UCAS have derived a consistent time series by applying the postcodes for this constituency over previous years. Source: UCAS 
		
	
	The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes data on students at UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The numbers of young (under 21) entrants to UK HEIs who were domiciled in York Central constituency, City of York constituency and York local authority prior to their course have been provided in Table 2 for the academic years 2008/09 to 2011/12.
	Information for the 2012/13 academic year will become available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency in January 2014.
	There are differences in the coverage of UCAS and HESA: the UCAS figures cover applicants to higher education institutions, FE colleges, and other institutions in the UK; the HESA figures cover higher education institutions only, plus the University of Buckinghamshire. Not ail applicants apply via UCAS: some apply directly to institutions. In addition, some applicants who obtain a place via UCAS opt to defer entry until the following year.
	
		
			 Table 2: Entrants(1) aged under 21 to UK HEIs domiciled in the City of York constituency (2008/09 and 2009/10), York Central constituency (2010/11 and 2011/12) and York local authority(2) prior to their course—Academic years 2008/09 to 2011/12 
			 Entrants 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 
			 City of York constituency 440 440 — — 
			 York Central constituency — — 385 460 
			 York local authority 925 965 995 1,070 
			 (1) Covers all students in their first year of study. (2) A student's parliamentary constituency, local authority and area are derived from their home postcode. Data for 2010/11 and 2011/12 is based on the revised boundaries in the 2010 general election. Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded to the nearest five. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Student Record

Higher Education: York

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many UK domiciled (a) undergraduate and (b) postgraduate students enrolled at the (i) University of York and (ii) University of York St John in each year since 2008-09.

David Willetts: The Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) collects and publishes data on students at UK higher education institutions (HEIs). The numbers of UK domiciled entrants to the university of York and the university of York St John have been provided in the table for the academic years 2008/09 to 2011/12, broken down by level of study.
	Information for the 2012/13 academic year will become available from the Higher Education Statistics Agency in January 2014.
	
		
			 UK domiciled enrolments(1) at the university of York and York St John university by level of study: Academic years 2008/09 to 2011/12 
			  University of York York St John university 
			 Academic year Postgraduate Undergraduate Postgraduate Undergraduate 
			 2008/09 2,295 8,365 895 5,475 
			 2009/10 2,405 9,645 815 4,835 
			 2010/11 2,610 10,190 780 4,855 
			 2011/12 2,680 10,475 735 4,920 
			 (1) Enrolments are the total number of students regardless of their year of study. Figures cover enrolments on both full-time and part-time courses. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) 
		
	
	In my reply to the hon. Member on 12 September 2011, Official Report, column 1032W, it was necessary to provide statistics using the 1 December snapshot of student numbers rather than the final published totals. This is because a time series had been requested covering years prior to a change to the Standard Registration Population (SPR) of students.
	Figures in the table are not comparable with the figures provided in September 2011. The snapshot numbers tend to be lower than the SRP statistics published by HESA which capture the full range of start dates across the academic year.

Innovation

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he has taken to ensure that the UK is in future classed as an Innovation Leader, as opposed to an Innovation Follower in the European Commission Innovation Union Scoreboard; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: While the UK has moved from the group of Innovation Leaders in 2009 to the group of Innovation Followers in 2010 on the European Innovation Scoreboard ranking, the more recent WIPO-INSEAD Global Innovation Index shows the UK going from 14th in the world in 2010 to fifth in 2012 and now third in 2013. Innovation performance cannot be understood by looking at a single measure, but, instead, it requires a nuanced look at the different elements and how they interact.
	The UK Government's Innovation and Research Strategy for Growth, published in December 2011, set out how Government would strengthen the UK's innovative capability and encourage greater investment in innovation through support for research and innovation in business; provision of incentives for companies to invest in high-value business activities; creation of a more open and integrated innovation system; and removal of barriers to innovation.
	We commissioned new economic analysis of innovation to input into the policy development process and published a separate paper—BIS Economics Paper No 15—that supported the wider strategy and set out the UK's innovation system and its impacts and incorporates comparative analysis of innovation performance in other countries.
	The Innovation and Research Strategy for Growth set out a range of measures that will work to improve the UK's innovation performance. Key actions include:
	The Government is investing over £200 million to establish a network of elite Catapult Centres to commercialise new and emerging technologies in areas where there are large global market opportunities and a critical mass of UK capability to take advantage. The first six catapults—covering (High Value Manufacturing; Cell Therapy; Offshore Renewable Energy; Satellite Applications; Connected Digital Economy; and Future Cities—are already operational and the Transport Systems Catapult will be operational when the leadership team is complete by August 2013.
	The Innovation and Research Strategy for Growth announced a £75 million package of funding for research-intensive and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and an expansion of the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) to help Government Departments to access innovative solutions for specific public sector challenges, while, at the same time, supporting innovative companies in developing new products and services. Budget 2013 announced that the SBRI programme would be further expanded in key Government Departments.
	The R&D Tax Credit scheme allows all companies undertaking qualifying research and development expenditure to claim relief from corporation tax or, in the case of certain loss-making SMEs, payable credit. The strategy also announced that, from 1 April 2012, the rate of relief under the SME scheme would increase to 225% of qualifying expenditure, one of the most competitive rates in the world.
	Government also introduced a new "Above The Line" (ATL) credit for large company R&D investment from April 2013. Budget 2013 announced that the headline rate of the ATL credit will be increased to 10% from the 9.1% rate proposed at Budget 2012. This will make the UK a more attractive location for large company R&D activity by further reducing the after tax cost of investment.
	Government has also committed to invest in emerging technologies, including the eight great technologies, where the UK has the depth of research expertise and the business capability to develop, exploit and protect these, and where there are likely to be significant opportunities created by global markets for those worth over £10 billion per annum. Government announced investment of £600 million in its autumn statement of 2012 for facilities for technological R&D and Research Council infrastructure. This funding will support the development of innovative technologies and strengthen the UK's competitive advantage in areas such as big data, synthetic biology and advanced materials and support innovation infrastructure to take these technologies through to market.
	The Chancellor of the Exchequer, my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne), further announced a budget increase of £185 million for 2015/16 in the recent spending review for the Technology Strategy Board (TSB), the prime channel through which Government incentivises business-led technology innovation. This will enable the TSB to make a more powerful impact on the role that it can play in generating UK economic growth by building on its existing support programmes for innovative UK businesses.
	We are monitoring the UK's performance through the annual innovation report and the full effects of the strategy will be realised over the medium to long-term.

Motor Vehicles: Insurance

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the operation of approved repairer schemes and vertical agreements by motor insurance companies;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effects of the European Commission's supplementary guidelines on vertical restraints in agreements for the sale and repair of motor vehicles on (a) the operation of vertical agreements and (b) competition practices in the UK motor insurance market.

Jo Swinson: The European Commission's supplementary guidelines on vertical restraints in agreements for the sale and repair of motor vehicles form part of the legal framework for the application of competition law to the motor vehicles sector, which the European Commission adopted in 2010. The adoption of the new rules followed an assessment of competition in the motor vehicles sector by the European Commission.
	As such, the Government considers that the operation of the new block exemption regime for motor vehicles and any monitoring of how that is working is a matter for the European Commission.
	I would also note that the Office for Fair Trading (OFT) in September 2012 referred the UK's private motor insurance market to the Competition Commission (CC) for further investigation amid concerns that the market is not working well for motorists.
	The OFT had previously conducted a market study in which it provisionally found that the insurers of drivers responsible for an accident (“at-fault” drivers) appear to have little control over the way repairs and replacement vehicles are provided to the “not-at-fault” driver. This may enable the insurers of not-at-fault drivers, and others such as insurance brokers, credit hire organisations and repairers, to engage in practices which appear to result in the cost of replacement vehicles and vehicle repairs provided to not-at-fault drivers being higher than they might otherwise be.
	The CC has up to two years from the date of the reference to report its findings. If it finds that features of a market are harming competition, it has powers to impose remedies to address the situation. On 5 July, the CC published a summary of its current thinking, in a document known as an annotated issues statement. This document can be found on the CC's website:
	http://www.competition-commission.org.uk/assets/competitioncommission/docs/2012/private-motor-insurance-market-investigation/130705_annotated_issues_statement.pdf

Research: Finance

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will make it his policy to raise public spending on research and development to 0.7 per cent of GDP, in line with the current EU average, by 2020; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: In difficult fiscal circumstances the Government has maintained the ring-fenced £4.6 billion science and research budget in the recent spending review; increased the Technology Strategy Board resource budget by £185 million in 2015-16; and increased the science capital budget in real terms to £1.1 billion in 2015-16, to rise in line with inflation to 2021.
	Rather than focus on input targets, Government is focused on delivering the outcomes for the economy and society of a world-class science and research base.

Royal Mail

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will outline the present timeline for the privatisation of the Royal Mail.

Michael Fallon: I laid a report in Parliament today that set out the Government's intention to sell shares in Royal Mail through an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in this financial year.

Youth Work

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding his Department allocated for youth work in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12 and (c) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Jo Swinson: The Department does not allocate funding specifically for ‘youth work’ and disproportionate costs would be incurred to attempt an analysis as no precise definition exists.
	However, the Department's policy and delivery responsibilities have a number of direct interventions on ‘youth work’ to help counter youth unemployment, to deliver opportunities for young people to develop the skills for apprenticeships and sustained employment, to provide opportunity for training and to support and develop young entrepreneurs. Working in partnership with the Department for Education and the Department for Work and Pensions, these activities offer significant support to young people and are a key aspect of cross Government policy. In addition, the Department's higher and further education policies help provide a robust framework in which young people can learn.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Children: Employment

Stephen Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if she will take steps to review any respects in which World Trade Organisation rules hinder prohibitions or other measures preventing child labour.

Alan Duncan: World Trade Organisation (WTO) agreements are based on the core principle of non-discrimination and are considered appropriate for regulating international trade. The International Labour Organisation is the correct forum to deal with labour standards and regularly collaborates with the WTO.
	Incentives to tackle child labour are built into the trade agreements the UK is part of through sustainable development clauses, and in the conditions attached to the trade preferences provided to developing countries. As an incentive, additional trade preferences are provided to countries which sign up to and effectively implement good governance and human rights conventions.

Developing Countries: Corruption

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how the Government plans to address the endemic nature of corruption through use of the development budget in countries lacking transparency.

Justine Greening: DFID has stepped up efforts to reduce corruption in developing countries through support in areas like management of public finances (taxation and procurement) and increased investigation and sanctioning of corruption cases. The measures also include steps to improve transparency and access to information, and support for civil society organisations and the media to monitor and hold government to account. In December 2012 DFID increased its funding for the units in the Metropolitan police and the City of London police helping tackle international bribery and corruption.

Developing Countries: Wildlife

Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether her Department has any plans to monitor wildlife or biodiversity outcomes from its bilateral or multilateral funding.

Lynne Featherstone: All DFID funded bilateral activities over £400 are screened for environmental risks and opportunities, including those relevant to wildlife and biodiversity. DFID programmes are also subject to rigorous monitoring and evaluation to ensure delivery against agreed programme objectives. Outcomes for wildlife and biodiversity are included in this assessment where they have been identified as an explicit component of the programme.
	Multilateral development organisations such as the World Bank and UN Development Programme have their own internal processes in place to screen for environmental risks and opportunities. DFID works closely with these organisations to help make their monitoring processes as robust as possible to wildlife or including those that relate to biodiversity.

Senior Civil Servants

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many senior civil servants left her Department and public bodies under voluntary exit and received a severance payment in each of the last three years; and what the value of such payments was.

Alan Duncan: No senior civil servants have left DFID or its public bodies under voluntary exit terms in any of the last three financial years.

Somalia

Stephen Doughty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment she has made of the contribution of diaspora remittances to enconomic growth and stability in Somaliland and Somalia.

Alan Duncan: Remittances have played a key role in both economic growth and stability, particularly in Somaliland but also more widely in Somalia over the last 20 years. Remittances are estimated to account for 50% of Somalia's gross national income and to support up to 40% of the population, or 3.8 million people. Exact figures cannot be determined due to the lack of supervision and regulation of the sector in Somalia, however, Somali "Money Transfer Organisations" (MTOs) are estimated to handle US$2 billion annually in remittances from worldwide sources. It is further estimated that $500 million of remittances are sent to Somaliland per year.
	Remittances are therefore crucial to a large number of individuals' livelihoods and to the overall stability of the country. Studies have, however, also found that remittances in Somalia can discourage job-seeking as individuals have chosen to rely on remittances for their livelihoods, rather than work in local jobs. Due to commercial banks' recent decisions to close the majority of MTO accounts in the UK, DFID is working closely with Her Majesty's Treasury and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to assess the situation and facilitate dialogue between industry stakeholders to try to ensure transfers to Somalia and elsewhere remain possible.

Sudan and South Sudan

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much her Department has spent on which training programmes in Sudan and South Sudan in each of the last six years.

Alan Duncan: Training and capacity building is an important component of several UK development projects in Sudan and South Sudan. However we cannot provide a breakdown by year as we do not maintain a central record for all training activities across our programme. Examples include:
	
		
			 Programme Training and capacity-building programmes Sudan (including South Sudan before July 2011) South Sudan Total value (£ million) 
			 RedR Providing humanitarian workers with training in security, welfare and programme management 2006-13 2011-13 8.4 
			 Sudan Safety and Access to Justice Programme Including the training of police officers, the judiciary and Ministry of Justice Staff 2010-14 2011-14 20.6 
			 Basic services Fund Including direct training of 1,033 primary school teachers — 2005-12 56.8 
			 Capacity-building trust fund programme Including training 1,113 participants with accountancy skills — 2010-14 6.8